Posted 11/23/09
Interesting article on how Portsmouth responded to Boston in 1872. The article is in PDF format and can be read by clicking HERE.
Posted 11/2/09
Member Frank San Severino compiled interesting run statistics for METROFIRE. They can be found on the METROFIRE statistics page at CLICK HERE.
Posted 10/22/09
It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Box 52 member and former Middleton, MA Fire Chief George Nash. George was elected into membership February 16, 2001. Rest in Peace.
Posted 9/21/09
The Box 52 Association regrets to announce the passing of member Thomas Fay Jr, a retired captain from Brookline Mass.
Posted 9/15/09
***PRESS RELEASE***
FDNY LAUNCHES NEW FIREBOAT, THREE FORTY THREE, TO HONOR ALL FDNY MEMBERS LOST ON SEPTEMBER 11TH
The FDNY Marine Division*s newest fireboat, Three Forty Three, will be launched at a ceremony on Friday, September 11th at 10 a.m. at Eastern Shipbuilding Group shipyard at 2200 Nelson Street in Panama City, Florida. The ship is named in honor of all FDNY members killed on September 11th. The launch ceremony will consist of the traditional breaking of a champagne bottle across the bow, followed by the first splash down of the ship into the sea.
The Three Forty Three is expected to arrive in New York City in December and will be assigned to Marine 1, stationed on the Hudson River in Manhattan, replacing the 50-year-old John D. McKean. A second ship currently under construction, Fire Fighter II, will eventually replace the 50-year-old Fire Fighter, and will be assigned to Marine 9 on Staten Island. Both fireboats were funded, in large part, by over $40 million dollars in grants from the Department of Homeland Security. Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, Florida was awarded the contract for detailed design and construction of the ships on December 28, 2007. The fireboat*s original design is from naval architectural firm Robert Allan Ltd. of Vancouver, B.C.
*On September 11th, we all saw how important fireboats are to New York City. The FDNY Marine Division rescued and transported hundreds of citizens and provided the only supply of water to battle the fires at the World Trade Center for many days,* said Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta. *The Three Forty Three will significantly improve our ability to respond to emergencies in and around New York Harbor, while also reminding us all of the incredible sacrifices so many of our members made eight years ago.*
The new 140-foot, 500-ton, $27 million dollar boat will be the country*s largest fireboat with a maximum speed of 18 knots. The Three Forty Three will provide the FDNY with the latest technology available for Marine vessels, including the capability of pumping 50,000 gallons of water per minute; nearly 30,000 gallons more than its predecessor. The Three Forty Three has been designed, with the assistance of U.S. Navy engineers from the U.S. military*s Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense and Naval Sea Systems Command, to detect and protect firefighters from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents. The ship contains a pressurized area that filters the air supply using special charcoal and high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, allowing the crew members to operate when needed in hostile environments. Decontamination and first aid can be handled aboard the ship as well by means of a de-con shower area that leads to a triage and first-aid station.
Other innovative designs make this ship extremely useful to the FDNY. The Three Forty Three features a forward ballast tank which lowers the boat in the water to match its deck with larger ferries that operate in the waters around New York City. This feature will allow the fireboat to safely transfer and evacuate people in an emergency. The ship*s pilot house is configured to allow the Captain a 360-degree view of an operation, which can assist with maneuvering the vessel in tight quarters. In addition, the Three Forty Three has a command and control area where the ship*s officers will be able to monitor and direct fire operations with the aid of remote cameras and state-of-the-art communication equipment.
The FDNY Marine Fleet consists of more than 30 vessels responsible for over 450 miles of coastline and harbors and has protected New York City residents for 134 years.
Posted 9/11/09-
It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Honorary Box 52 member Retired Boston Fire Commissioner George Paul at the age of 86 on 09-09-09. Paul was elected as an Honorary member on May 21, 1970.
Timeline for the Great Meadows fire Box 2373, Lexington - Friday April 17, 2009
Posted 4/28, courtesy of Frank San Severino. Click Here for the Word Doc file.
This article is courtesy of the Gong Club.
"Miracle" crosses the Hudson
The aircraft of US Airways Flight 1549, quickly dubbed "The Miracle on the Hudson" after all 155 souls on board survived its ditching on Thursday, January 15, 2009, finally made it out of New York. On Sunday evening, January 18, 2009, after being hoisted out of the river at the foot of Murray St. in Manhattan by a massive crane, the jet was floated across the Hudson to the Weeks Marine Terminal, foot of Colony Rd., Jersey City. Incident commanders on both sides of the river announced on their respective frequencies that responsibility for the aircraft was transferred from the F.D.N.Y. to the F.D.J.C. at 2121 hours on January 18, 2009.
The Airbus A320 arrived aboard a Weeks barge in a snowstorm, the second snow squall of the day. The operation on the Manhattan side commenced as soon as the plane was halted from its unscheduled voyage downstream by F.D.N.Y. Marine Companies 1 and 6. The fireboats were able to corral the jet against the bulkhead along River Terrace at Murray St. in Battery Park City. Once stabilized, a plan was devised to lift the plane out of the water using Weeks Crane #533, the largest such floating crane on the river. Then the fuel had to be drained before the plane could be moved to the Weeks yard for further examination by the National Transportation Safety Board and other investigators.
A plan for the investigation was formulated and the Jersey City Fire Department was to play a key role in protecting the operation. In addition to fire protection and hazardous material monitoring, the Department deployed its Zodiac boat in the event any investigators fell overboard. Monday, January 19, 2009 dawned as another cold snowy day adding to the daunting task of examining this now famous aircraft. Realizing that his companies as well as the personnel from the investigating agencies faced a long day braving the elements on the waterfront, Deputy Chief Martin McNulty called for the Department's "secret weapon". Shortly after 1000 hours, Fire Dispatch Center activated the Gong Club pagers with orders to respond to the Weeks Terminal at 1145 hours. Operations were scheduled to commence at Noon.
Car 26, the Gong Club Canteen, arrived at the incident and was ordered to take a position at the gangplank to the barge leading to the aircraft. Over 50 representatives of agencies ranging from the NTSB to the U. S. Department of Agriculture comprised the group examining the plane. The group included people from the airline, the aircraft manufacturer, insurance personnel and a few with pronounced German and British accents, obviously having traveled from overseas for this examination. A luxury bus was used to transport the team to the relatively remote area where the Weeks facility is located. The bus remained on site for use as a warming station. However, firefighters and the investigative personnel gladly availed themselves of the Gong Club services. At the conclusion of the 7 hour and 15 minute run, the Gong Club tallied service of 6 gallons of coffee, 5 gallons of hot chocolate, 30 bottles of water, 3 gallons of Ravioli, 100 donuts and 24 snack cakes. Despite the disparate agencies present, they all were unanimous in their thanks to Car 26 for warm sustenance on a biting cold day.
This was the second meeting of this aircraft with Car 26, as the Gong Club responded to the 2nd Alarm struck by North Hudson for the Port Imperial Ferry Terminal, 1 Pershing Rd., Weehawken. Approximately half of the passengers were brought to the New Jersey side on the night of the incident. F.D.J.C. Units involved in the January 19 operation included:
1145 Spec. Call Box 910 Eng. Co. 13-19-6 Lad. Co. 2 Marine 2 Div. 1 Batt. 2 Car 26
1500 Relief Box 910 Eng. Co. 8-9 Sqd. Co. 4 Res. Co. 1 Lad Co. 4 MSU Safety Batt.