Latest

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 […]

September 30, 2015

Operating at Escalator Fires and Emergencies

Effectively and quietly moving thousands of people daily throughout New York City, escalators commonly are used in many occupancy types. Yet, surprisingly, escalator incidents and fires are an uncommon response for FDNY members. Note: According to NYFIRS data provided by Captain Thomas Smith, Safety Command, the FDNY reported 55 fires in escalators since 2009, with […]

September 30, 2015

When a “Routine” Call is Anything but Routine

On Wednesday, October 8, 2014, at 2143 hours, units in Queens were dispatched to Box 7474 at 30-14 Steinway Street in the Astoria neighborhood. It came in as a UCT alarm for an odor of gas. While responding, the dispatcher called with additional information, stating there was food on the stove in the third-floor apartment. […]

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 […]

September 30, 2015

Operating at Escalator Fires and Emergencies

Effectively and quietly moving thousands of people daily throughout New York City, escalators commonly are used in many occupancy types. Yet, surprisingly, escalator incidents and fires are an uncommon response for FDNY members. Note: According to NYFIRS data provided by Captain Thomas Smith, Safety Command, the FDNY reported 55 fires in escalators since 2009, with […]

September 30, 2015

When a “Routine” Call is Anything but Routine

On Wednesday, October 8, 2014, at 2143 hours, units in Queens were dispatched to Box 7474 at 30-14 Steinway Street in the Astoria neighborhood. It came in as a UCT alarm for an odor of gas. While responding, the dispatcher called with additional information, stating there was food on the stove in the third-floor apartment. […]