Latest

December 1, 2015

Happy Land Social Club Fire: 25 Years Later

Early in the morning of March 25, 1990, the loud booming rhythms that characterized the dance music scene of the 1980s and ‘90s were interrupted by the sounds of terror and panic. An intentionally set fire in the Happy Land Social Club claimed the lives of 87 people. The blaze remains the worst case  of […]

December 1, 2015

Another Take on Situational Awareness

We have heard the term situational awareness many times, but what does it really mean? The generally accepted definition states that it is having the ability to identify, mentally process and comprehend critical elements of information that surround you; may affect you, your team and your mission; and to anticipate the possible events that may […]

December 1, 2015

ICS Instrumental at Grey Shark Fire

On March 14, 2015, the Master of Vessel, Captain Victor Tarasov, reported that the Grey Shark had developed engine trouble and was directed by its owners to return to New York City for repairs. The next night, the Grey Shark lost its second engine, putting it at the mercy of the mid-March Atlantic Ocean. Winds […]

September 30, 2015

Wild-Impacted Fires…Without the Wind: How the Stack Effect Can Impact a Fire

On a cold winter night in January 2015, Firefighters in the Bronx battled a fierce, wind-impacted fire on the fourth floor of a 16-story, project-type, high-rise multiple dwelling. As with most wind-impacted fires, the fire apartment door had been left open. As Ladder 19’s inside team was advancing in the public hallway toward the fire […]

September 30, 2015

The General Slocum Fire

The morning of June 15, 1904, was, by most accounts, the perfect day for a steamship excursion up the East River of New York City. After months of meticulous planning, the members of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church were ready to embark on their seventh annual boat ride to Locust Grove on Long Island. The annual […]

September 30, 2015

The Dangers of Belt Man Lifts

On a building inspection of a four-story, below-grade parking garage at 1735 York Avenue in Upper Manhattan, the members of Ladder 43 found an unusual type of elevator designed to transport parking attendants to upper floors. Information suggests that this is a belt man lift. According to spokesman John Favro, Humphrey Manlift Company, Inc., this […]

September 30, 2015

Shoring Operations at 261 Madison Avenue (Sidebar)

Rescue Operations units engage in the shoring and stabilization of compromised structures on a fairly regular basis. Most often, this activity occurs on the ground floor or a below-grade story. Occasionally, units will operate on an upper floor of a “low-rise” structure. In support of operations at 261 Madison Avenue, units shored a compromised portion […]

September 30, 2015

Crane Calamity in Midtown Manhattan

On Sunday, May 31, 2015, beginning at 1043 hours, 9-1-1 calls began notifying UCT communications dispatchers of a catastrophic event (big bang) on Madison Avenue in midtown Manhattan, between East 38th and 39th Streets. The calls ranged from a building collapse, to a crane collapse, to an explosion. Dispatched on Box 0739 to the location […]

December 1, 2015

Happy Land Social Club Fire: 25 Years Later

Early in the morning of March 25, 1990, the loud booming rhythms that characterized the dance music scene of the 1980s and ‘90s were interrupted by the sounds of terror and panic. An intentionally set fire in the Happy Land Social Club claimed the lives of 87 people. The blaze remains the worst case  of […]

December 1, 2015

Another Take on Situational Awareness

We have heard the term situational awareness many times, but what does it really mean? The generally accepted definition states that it is having the ability to identify, mentally process and comprehend critical elements of information that surround you; may affect you, your team and your mission; and to anticipate the possible events that may […]

December 1, 2015

ICS Instrumental at Grey Shark Fire

On March 14, 2015, the Master of Vessel, Captain Victor Tarasov, reported that the Grey Shark had developed engine trouble and was directed by its owners to return to New York City for repairs. The next night, the Grey Shark lost its second engine, putting it at the mercy of the mid-March Atlantic Ocean. Winds […]

September 30, 2015

Wild-Impacted Fires…Without the Wind: How the Stack Effect Can Impact a Fire

On a cold winter night in January 2015, Firefighters in the Bronx battled a fierce, wind-impacted fire on the fourth floor of a 16-story, project-type, high-rise multiple dwelling. As with most wind-impacted fires, the fire apartment door had been left open. As Ladder 19’s inside team was advancing in the public hallway toward the fire […]

September 30, 2015

The General Slocum Fire

The morning of June 15, 1904, was, by most accounts, the perfect day for a steamship excursion up the East River of New York City. After months of meticulous planning, the members of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church were ready to embark on their seventh annual boat ride to Locust Grove on Long Island. The annual […]

September 30, 2015

The Dangers of Belt Man Lifts

On a building inspection of a four-story, below-grade parking garage at 1735 York Avenue in Upper Manhattan, the members of Ladder 43 found an unusual type of elevator designed to transport parking attendants to upper floors. Information suggests that this is a belt man lift. According to spokesman John Favro, Humphrey Manlift Company, Inc., this […]

September 30, 2015

Shoring Operations at 261 Madison Avenue (Sidebar)

Rescue Operations units engage in the shoring and stabilization of compromised structures on a fairly regular basis. Most often, this activity occurs on the ground floor or a below-grade story. Occasionally, units will operate on an upper floor of a “low-rise” structure. In support of operations at 261 Madison Avenue, units shored a compromised portion […]

September 30, 2015

Crane Calamity in Midtown Manhattan

On Sunday, May 31, 2015, beginning at 1043 hours, 9-1-1 calls began notifying UCT communications dispatchers of a catastrophic event (big bang) on Madison Avenue in midtown Manhattan, between East 38th and 39th Streets. The calls ranged from a building collapse, to a crane collapse, to an explosion. Dispatched on Box 0739 to the location […]