New York City Fire Department

The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), also known as the New York City Fire Department, is the full-service fire department of New York City, serving all five boroughs. The FDNY is responsible for putting out fires, responding to dangerous materials, providing emergency medical help, and helping with special rescue situations across the entire city.

The New York City Fire Department is the largest municipal fire department in North America and the Western Hemisphere, and the second largest in the world after the Tokyo Fire Department. The FDNY has over 11,000 firefighters, 4,500 emergency medical workers, and 2,000 civilian employees. It serves more than 8.5 million people in a big area of 302 square miles (780 km²).

The FDNY headquarters is located at 9 MetroTech Center in Downtown Brooklyn, and the FDNY Fire Academy is on Randalls Island. The department has several groups that represent its workers, including the Uniformed Firefighters Association, the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, and others.

Organization

The New York City Fire Department is organized like many big city fire departments, with a clear structure for leadership and operations. The department is led by a Fire Commissioner, who is a civilian, and a Chief of Department who handles day-to-day operations. The department includes many leaders who help manage different areas of work.

The department is split into five groups, one for each area of New York City. Each area has its own leader. These groups are further divided into smaller teams, each led by a deputy chief. Within these teams are battalions, led by a battalion chief, and each battalion includes several firehouses. Firehouses contain fire companies, each led by a captain and made up of lieutenants and firefighters. Firefighters work in shifts, usually taking 24-hour turns followed by days off.

The FDNY deals with many types of emergencies, from fires in homes and tall buildings to accidents on bridges, in subways, or in parks. They also help with car accidents, gas leaks, rescues, and many other urgent situations.

History

1648–1865

The New York City Fire Department began in 1648 when the first fire rules were made in a place called New Amsterdam. Peter Stuyvesant, a leader there, picked four men to watch over wooden chimneys to prevent fires. These men were called fire wardens.

Later, in 1664, New Amsterdam became part of England and was renamed New York. The first fire brigade in New York started in 1731 with two special fire vehicles brought from London. These were the first fire engines in the American colonies. Everyone had to help put out fires when alarms sounded.

The city’s first fire station was built in 1736 near City Hall. In 1737, a group of volunteer firefighters was formed, and in 1798, the Fire Department of the City of New York was officially created.

1865–1898

In 1865, the volunteer firefighters were replaced by paid firefighters. This change was not easy, and some volunteers were unhappy. But insurance companies wanted paid firefighters, so the change happened. The paid firefighters took over the old fire stations and equipment.

1898–2001

In 1898, different parts of New York were combined into one city, and the Fire Department became one unit too. This brought many changes. In 1909, the Fire Department got its first motorized fire vehicles. In 1911, a big fire at a shirt factory sadly took many lives.

In 1965, a new mayor appointed Robert O. Lowery as the first African American Fire Commissioner of a major U.S. city. In 1977, women were allowed to take the test to become firefighters, and after a legal fight, they were able to join the department in 1982.

2002–present

After the events of September 11, 2001, the Fire Department worked hard to rebuild and continue serving New York. They helped during the Northeast Blackout of 2003, rescuing people from elevators and fighting fires.

In 2019, Lillian Bonsignore became the first openly gay and first female chief of EMS Operations for the FDNY. She is currently the commissioner of the FDNY.

Ideology and core competencies

The New York City Fire Department, or FDNY, gets its name from a special rule called the Fire Department of the City of New York. This is different from most other fire departments in the U.S.

The FDNY believes in quickly entering buildings on fire because of how close buildings and people are in the city. Many of its members are from Irish and Italian American backgrounds, dating back to when the department was first paid. During the Civil War, these firefighters were part of a famous unit called the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. FDNY members are called "New York's Bravest." The emergency medical team is called "New York's Best."

Besides fighting fires, the FDNY helps with saving people, handling dangerous materials, and running ambulances with paramedics and EMTs all over the city. Together with some hospital ambulances, it is called the FDNY EMS Command. This is the largest emergency care provider in the world, answering over 1.5 million calls each year.

The FDNY has several main jobs, including:

• Fighting fires
• Giving emergency medical care before hospitals
• Searching and rescuing people
• Clearing buildings
• Keeping people safe from dangerous chemicals and substances
• Finding out what caused fires and checking for fire dangers

Training

The Bureau of Training at the Training Academy on Randall's Island helps prepare firefighters for their important work. New firefighters go through an 18-week program that includes classroom learning and physical training. For emergency medical services, there is a special academy at Fort Totten in Queens. There, EMT training takes 13 to 18 weeks, and paramedic training lasts 9 months.

Communications

There are two main offices for handling fire calls in New York City: one in Brooklyn and one in the Bronx. These offices help decide what kind of help is needed and send the right fire teams.

When someone calls for help, a special worker talks to them to learn more about the problem. This information is then sent to another worker who decides which fire units to send. The units get the message through radios or computers. If a unit doesn’t respond quickly, a voice caller will use a special radio system to contact them.

Calls can come in different ways: by phone, through special boxes on streets or in buildings, or by people telling fire workers directly. The most common way is by phone, especially using the number 9-1-1. These calls are first handled by police operators, who then send the call to the right fire office if it’s a fire or emergency.

Each place in the city has a special number called a “box number” to help fire workers find it quickly. This number helps them know exactly where to go. There is also a system that sends important information about buildings to help fire workers stay safe. The fire department uses special radio codes to talk to each other during emergencies.

Fire companies and specialty/support units

The New York City Fire Department is made up of fire companies, similar to military companies. Each fire company operates a single type of Fire apparatus, and has four shifts of firefighters and company officers. Each company responds to emergency calls from one of the city's 218 firehouses.

There are currently six different types of fire companies in the New York Fire Department, which all operate distinct types of apparatus: 197 engine companies, 143 ladder (or truck) companies, 5 rescue companies, 8 squad companies, 3 marine (or fireboat) companies, and the hazardous materials (hazmat) company. In addition to these six types of fire companies, there are numerous other specialized units that are operated by the Special Operations Command (S.O.C.), the Haz-Mat. Division, and the Marine Division. Each fire company has a specific role at the scene of an emergency.

Each type of fire company utilizes a certain type of fire apparatus, colloquially known as "rigs". Engine companies may be known as "engines" and ladder companies may be known as "trucks."

Engine companies

Engine Companies in the New York City Fire Department are tasked with fire suppression, which includes: securing a water supply from a fire hydrant, deploying handlines, then extinguishing a fire. These units respond to other emergencies as well. The apparatus of an engine is known as a pumper truck, and carries a pump (usually 1,000–2,000 gallons per minute), a water tank (usually 500 gallons), fire hoses of varying diameters (usually 1 3/4", 2 1/2", 3 1/2" and 4") in 50' lengths, emergency medical services supplies, ground extension ladders, and an assortment of basic firefighting and rescue tools. There are 197 Engine Companies in the FDNY.

Ladder companies (truck companies)

Ladder Companies (also known as truck companies) in the New York City Fire Department are tasked with forcible entry, search and rescue, ventilation, and ladder-pipe operations at the scene of a fire. They also respond to a variety of specialized emergencies. A ladder company can operate three types of ladder trucks: a rear mounted aerial ladder truck, equipped with a 100' aerial ladder mounted at the rear of the apparatus; a tower ladder truck, equipped with either a 75' or 95' telescoping boom and bucket mounted in the center of the apparatus; and a tractor-drawn aerial ladder truck known as a "hook and ladder" truck, equipped with a 100' aerial ladder. A ladder company will be equipped with various forcible entry tools, ventilation equipment, and a variety of rescue tools, in addition to other tools and equipment to deal with an assortment of fires, technical rescues, and other emergencies, including motor vehicle accidents and other responses. There are 143 Ladder Companies in the FDNY.

Rescue companies

Rescue Companies in the New York City Fire Department are composed of specially-trained members who respond to and deal with a wide variety of rescue situations . A Rescue Company is tasked with responding to and dealing with specialized fire rescue incidents that are beyond the scope and duties of a standard engine company or ladder company. Rescue companies operate rescue trucks, nicknamed "tool boxes on wheels," which carry a wide variety of specialized tools and equipment to aid in operations at technical rescue situations, such as: rope rescues, building collapse rescues, confined space rescues, trench/excavation rescues, machinery and vehicle extrication/rescues, water rescues and a variety of other technical rescue situations. They respond to all structure fires within their response district as well. There are 5 full-time Rescue Companies in the FDNY. Each Rescue Company also operates a specialized building collapse rescue vehicle. The Rescue Companies have a wide variety of Specialized Tools and Equipment including the Jaws Of Life Hydraulic Rescue Tool Systems (Spreaders, Cutters, Combi Tools, Rams, Etc),Numerous Air Bags, Heavy Lifting Equipment, Specialized Cutting Torches, Specialized Air, Electric and Battery Operated Breaching, Breaking and Cutting Tools, Rope Rescue Equipment, Water Rescue Equipment, Emergency Medical Services Equipment and other Specialized Tools and Equipment.

• Rescue Company 1: Rescue Company 1 serves Manhattan below 125th St. on the West Side, and below 116th St. on the East Side. Rescue Company 1's quarters are located at 530 W. 43rd St. in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Midtown, Manhattan.
• Rescue Company 2: Rescue Company 2 serves central and northwestern Brooklyn, not including parts of Williamsburg and Greenpoint. Rescue Company 2's quarters are located at 1815 Sterling Pl. in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn.
• Rescue Company 3: Rescue Company 3 serves the Bronx and Harlem above 125th St. on the West Side, and above 116th St. on the East Side. Rescue Company 3's quarters are located at 1655 Washington Ave. in the Claremont neighborhood of the Bronx.
• Rescue Company 4: Rescue Company 4 serves Queens, and parts of northern of Brooklyn. Rescue Company 4 is quartered with Engine 292 at 64–18 Queens Blvd. in the Woodside neighborhood of Queens.
• Rescue Company 5: Rescue Company 5 serves Staten Island and parts of southern Brooklyn. Rescue Company 5 is quartered with Engine 160, TSU 2, and the Chief of the 8th Division at 1850 Clove Rd., in the Grasmere neighborhood of Staten Island.

Squad companies

The Squad Companies are also composed of specially trained firefighters of the New York Fire Department. Squad companies were initially established by the FDNY to serve as "manpower companies," to supplement the manpower and operations of engine companies and ladder companies. Today, squad companies can function as either engine companies or ladder companies at the scene of a fire or other emergencies, but they are also equipped with the same equipment and specialized tools as the Rescue Companies. In particular, members of a squad company are highly trained in mitigating hazardous materials (hazmat) incidents, supplementing the FDNY's single hazmat company. There are 8 Squad Companies in the FDNY:

• Squad Company 1: Squad Company 1 serves northwestern, western and southern Brooklyn. Squad Company 1's quarters are located at 788 Union St. in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn.
• Squad Company 8: Squad Company 8 serves Staten Island. Squad Company 8 is quartered with the Staten Island Borough Commander at 3730 Victory Blvd. in the Travis neighborhood of Staten island. Staten Island was served by Squad Company 1 until 2018, when Engine 154 was disbanded and Squad Company 8 was organized in the former quarters. Before that, Staten Island was the only borough without its own squad company.
• Squad Company 18: Squad Company 18 serves Manhattan below 125th St. Squad Company 18's quarters are located at 132 W. 10th St. in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan.
• Squad Company 41: Squad Company 41 serves the southwestern Bronx and Manhattan above 125th St. Squad Company 41's quarters are located at 330 E. 150th St. in the South Bronx neighborhood of the Bronx.
• Squad Company 61: Squad Company 61 serves the northeastern Bronx. Squad Company 61 is quartered with the Chief of the 20th Battalion at 1518 Williamsbridge Rd. in the Morris Park neighborhood of the Bronx.
• Squad Company 252: Squad Company 252 serves northeastern and eastern Brooklyn. Squad Company 252's quarters are located at 617 Central Ave. in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn.
• Squad Company 270: Squad Company 270 serves southern Queens. Squad Company 270 is quartered with the Chief of the 13th Division at 91–45 121st St. in the Richmond Hill neighborhood of Queens.
• Squad Company 288: Squad Company 288 serves northern Queens, Greenpoint and parts of Williamsburg. Squad Company 288 is quartered with Haz-Mat.Company 1 at 56–29 68th St. in the Maspeth neighborhood of Queens.

Hazardous materials company

The FDNY hazardous materials (hazmat) company, Haz-Mat 1 (quartered in Queens), responds to all major citywide hazardous materials incidents, building collapses, contamination-related incidents, terrorism-related disasters, major emergencies, and a variety of other incidents in which their services may be needed. Like the Rescue Company and Squad Company Apparatus of the FDNY, members of Haz-Mat Company 1 are experienced and specially trained to deal with hazardous situations. The Haz-Mat company operates a Haz-Mat Truck, similar to a rescue truck, which carries a variety of equipment to deal with hazardous situations. Haz-Mat 1 also operates a smaller rescue truck which carries extra equipment not carried on the company's main piece of apparatus. The Haz-Mat company is supplemented by the squad companies primarily, the rescue companies, and four HMTU engine companies whose members are certified Haz-Mat Technicians. These four engine companies, like the squad companies, also operate medium rescue trucks that carry hazmat equipment. Plugging equipment, Hazmat personal protective equipment, non sparking tools, and other equipment are carried on the Hazardous Materials apparatus.

Fireboats (marine companies)

Main article: Fireboats of New York City

In addition to its Engine Companies, Ladder (Truck) Companies, Squad Companies, Hazmat Company and Rescue Companies, FDNY operates three Class I fireboats as marine companies year round:

• Marine Company No. 1 – Three Forty Three covering the Hudson River.
• Marine Company No. 6 – Bravest covering the East River.
• Marine Company No. 9 – Fire Fighter II covering the New York Bay.

A * Marine Battalion which responds on all Maritime incidents when available, and several seasonal (Typically from Mid-May through Early-October) Class II Marine Companies :

• 'Marine Company No. 3 covering Jamaica Bay.
• 'Marine Company No. 4 covering Eastchester Bay.
• 'Marine Company No. 8 covering the Staten Island Shoreline.

Three older fireboats are kept in reserve: John D. McKean, Governor Alfred E. Smith, and Kevin C. Kane. A former FDNY Marine Unit, the John J. Harvey, is notable as having returned to active service as Marine 2 on September 11, 2001, and providing firefighting services for 80 hours following the attack.

In 2010, the newly built fireboat, Three Forty Three, replaced the John D. McKean, which entered service in 1954, as Marine 1. A twin, 140-foot, vessel, Fire Fighter II, replaced Fire Fighter, dedicated in 1938, as Marine 9. The two new boats cost $60 million, funded by a grant from the Department of Homeland Security, and represented the city's first major investment in new fireboats in 50 years. The $2.4 million Bravest, commissioned on May 26, 2011, is smaller than the other two Class I boats, at 65 feet, but is able to operate in shallower waters, including those near the city's airports.

The department also has a fleet of approximately 14 smaller, class II fireboats, with ten 33-foot Rapid Response Fire, three 31-foot medical response, and one 33-foot SCUBA boats and other equipment that can be activated for use when needed .

Volunteer departments

Nine volunteer fire companies remain in New York City and respond to calls in their neighborhood, in addition to FDNY units. They are typically in more isolated neighborhoods of the city. By borough, the volunteer companies are:

• Bronx (1) – Edgewater Park Volunteer Hose Company No. 1
• Brooklyn (1) – Gerritsen Beach Fire Volunteers Inc.
• Queens (5) – West Hamilton Beach VFD, Broad Channel VFD, Roxbury VFD, Rockaway Point VFD, and Point Breeze VFD
• Staten Island (2) – Oceanic H&L Company No. 1, Richmond Engine Co. 1

The Staten Island volunteer companies are dispatched by the Staten Island Communications Office and operate on the FDNY Staten Island frequency. Broad Channel and West Hamilton Beach have teleprinters in parallel with the FDNY fire companies that also serve their area. The Brooklyn and first four volunteer companies in Queens also provide ambulance services.

The nine volunteer fire departments supplement the FDNY, however, their services have sometimes proven essential. They are especially needed in urgent events, such as storms that can cause flooding conditions that prevent FDNY companies from reaching alarms promptly. Typically, the departments respond in addition to the initial assignment dispatched by the FDNY. The volunteer departments are fully trained and operational with the apparatus and equipment they have. Therefore, when they arrive to a scene first or when needed, they will implement their operations alongside FDNY as applicable.

Other units

• Battalion Chief Unit: A Battalion Chief Unit is a command vehicle tasked with the responsibility of delivering a Battalion Chief to fires and other emergency incidents. Once on the scene of any Emergency, the vehicle then takes on the role of a Command Vehicle, utilizing its radios and Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) equipment. There are 53 Firefighting Battalion Chief Units as well as the Special Operations/Rescue, Marine, Safety, and HazMat Battalion Chief Units in the FDNY.
• Division Chief Unit: A Division Chief Unit, like a Battalion Chief Unit, is a command vehicle tasked with the responsibility of delivering a Division Chief to fires and other emergency incidents. Once on the scene of any Emergency, the vehicle then takes on the role of a Command Vehicle, utilizing its radios and MDT equipment. There are 9 Division Chief Units in the FDNY.
• Mask Service Unit (M.S.U.): The Mask Service Unit is a vehicle which has equipment that refills the air bottles used by firefighters to breathe in a fire.
• Recuperation and Care Unit (R.A.C.): A Recuperation and Care Unit utilizes a vehicle that is specially outfitted with equipment that will enable it to provide rehabilitation to firefighters on a major incident. There are currently 5 RAC Units. The RAC Unit responds to every 10–75.
• Field Communications Unit (Field Comm.): The Field Communications Unit utilizes a vehicle that is specially equipped with communication equipment, such as telephones, broadband internet, and mobile radios along with other equipment. Its main responsibility is to provide communication support to the on scene Incident Commander at major incidents.
• Satellite Unit (Satt.): A Satellite Unit utilizes a special fire vehicle equipped with extra 4.5 inch large diameter hose, 6 inch diameter suction hose, foam agent and a high-volume deluge gun to support the operations of other fire units on scene. Satellite units respond as part of the second alarm response, and Staten Island first alarms, and certain other boxes.
• Tactical Support Unit (T.S.U.): A Tactical Support Unit utilizes a 4x4 vehicle equipped with generators and a variety of high intensity lights to aid firefighters during low light conditions. Additional specialized equipment, such as extrication tools and a six-person Avon boat, are also carried on this vehicle.
• Thawing Unit: The Thawing Units are vehicles that carry a portable steam-generating boiler; its high-pressure steam is used to thaw frozen hydrants, connections, and hoselines, and used to keep equipment on the fireground, such as aerial ladders, free of ice. There is only one thawing unit per borough.
• Brush Fire Unit: A Brush Unit utilizes a vehicle that is a four-wheel-drive, all-terrain unit that is used to reach hilly, remote, and marshy areas, in order to extinguish fires involving weeds, grass, and other vegetation. Along with regular firefighting equipment, it carries its own water, in addition to rakes, shovels, and backpack extinguishers.
• Ambulance: The New York City Fire Department staffs Emergency medical technician (EMT) Basic Life Support (BLS) and Paramedic Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances to provide emergency medical services to the city of New York. These are commonly referred to by the slang term bus.
• Haz-Tac Ambulance: The 39 EMS Units are known as the Hazardous Material Tactical Units (Haz-Tac Ambulances), and are trained to the Haz Mat Technician level. This allows them to provide emergency medical care and decontamination in hazardous environments, in addition to their normal 911 duties.
• Rescue Medic: An Advanced Life Support (ALS) or paramedic ambulance that is trained to the Haz Mat Technician level, and are also trained as Rescue Medical Technicians, specializing in medical care in adverse environments. The members of rescue medic units receive an extra 12% speciality pay.
• EMS Conditions Unit: A EMS Conditions Vehicle utilizes a vehicle that is assigned to an Emergency Medical Service supervisor. An Emergency Medical Service supervisor oversees ambulances within their assigned area.
• Haz Tac Battalion Unit: The Haz Tac Battalion Unit utilizes a vehicle that is assigned to an Emergency Medical Service supervisor. This Officer is the Captain of the FDNY EMS SOC unit. The Officer is trained as a Hazmat Technician and as Rescue Technician. The unit responds to speciality assignments in order to oversee the medical management at special assignments, and the overall operation of the Haz Tac Battalion.
• Haz Tac Officer's Unit: The Haz Tac Officer's Unit utilizes a vehicle that is assigned to an Emergency Medical Service supervisor. This Officer is trained as a Hazmat Technician and as Rescue Technician. The unit responds to specialty assignments in order to oversee the medical management at special assignments. There are two units that cover the entire City of New York 24/7.
• EMS MERV: A EMS MERV is a vehicle that is assigned to all major medical emergencies within its borough. The Major Emergency Response Vehicle is capable of treating multiple patients at a time.
• EMS MRTU: A EMS MRTU is a vehicle that is assigned to medical emergencies that have multiple patients. The Mobile Respiratory Treatment Unit is capable of providing multiple patients that require respiratory assistance.
• **EMS LSU:**EMS LSUs are vehicles assigned to all medical emergencies that have multiple patients. The Logistical Support Unit carries a surplus of certain medical supplies used at MCIs.
• EMS Response Physician: A Fire Department EMS Medical Director who is an Emergency Physician with specialized training in Hazardous Material, Technical Rescue, and other specialized prehospital skills, such as on-scene limb amputations. The Response Physician responds to major Mass Casualty Incidents, or as part of the Rescue Medical Task Force for patients requiring technical rescue or prolonged extrication. There are nine EMS response physicians throughout the city who go by the radio designation Car 5M ("5 Mary Car").

Ranks

The New York City Fire Department has special symbols and titles to show who is in charge. Fire and emergency medical services officers with the same job title wear the same symbols unless stated otherwise. This department uses military-style symbols for shirts, special bugles for formal jackets, and stripes for the sleeves of formal shirts.

Note: Instead of bugles, captains and lieutenants in ladder companies are shown with axes, rescue companies with Lyle guns, squad companies with crossed ladders and stacked tip nozzles, and marine companies with bugles that have an anchor.

Union representation

The New York City Fire Department has different groups that help protect workers' rights. Lieutenants, captains, battalion chiefs, and other leaders are part of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association. Firefighters and other marine workers have their own group called the Uniformed Firefighters Association. Dispatchers who answer fire alarms have another group named the Uniformed Fire Alarm Dispatchers Benevolent Association. All of these groups belong to a bigger organization called the International Association of Fire Fighters. EMTs, paramedics, and fire inspectors have their own unions as well, which are part of District Council 37.

In popular culture

Literature

The New York City Fire Department has been featured in many books. Some well-known titles include "Report from Engine Co. 82", "20,000 Alarms", and "The Last Men Out: Life on the Edge at Rescue 2 Firehouse". The FDNY has also created educational books, such as a guide on forcible entry techniques.

Film and television

The FDNY has appeared in many movies and TV shows. An early example is the 1972 documentary Man Alive: The Bronx is Burning, which followed firefighters in the South Bronx. The comedy films Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II used a real firehouse for some outside shots.

The department was also shown in the 2002 documentary 9/11, filmed by firefighters during the attacks. Other films and shows, like Sesame Street’s Elmo Visits the Firehouse and the TV series Rescue Me and Third Watch, have featured the FDNY as well.