New York City Fire Department Squad Company 1
Encyclopedia
New York City Fire Department
(FDNY) Squad Company 1 is one of 7 Squads in the FDNY Special Operations Command (SOC). Other SOC units include Rescue, HazMat
and Marine. Squad 1 responds to fires and other emergencies throughout New York City, operating primarily in Brooklyn
. Squad 1 is located in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn. They are a single company which operates a Seagrave
Pumper, 1000 g.p.m. with a 500 gallon tank. There are currently four officers and twenty-five assigned to this company.
at Engine 59 in 1955, moved to the Bronx at Ladder 58 in 1972, then to Engine 45 in 1975 and then disbanded in 1976. Squad 1 was re-established in 1977 in Brooklyn at 786 Union Street, the former quarters of Engine 269; which had been closed during the budget crisis. The local community had placed great pressure on the city to reopen the former house of Engine 269 and the city responded by reopening it and making it the new quarters for Squad 1.
The new Squad 1 was assigned a fully equipped pumper with ladder company hand and power tools. Squad 1’s responses included the former “first due” boxes of Engine 269 and working fires within a designated area. In 1998 New York City recognized the need to have more specialized units that could handle hazardous material incidents as well as increased readiness for incidents involving weapons of mass destruction. Six more engines were then designated as Squad Companies. Engine Company 41 was already an enhanced engine company but was redesigned as a Squad Company.
Squad 1 responds as an engine in its first, second and third due assignments and as a Squad Company to working fires, high angle, collapse, confined space, subway emergencies and hazardous material emergencies in Brooklyn and throughout the city as needed. Squad 1 responds to approximately 1800 runs per year.
in the September 11th attacks. The squad would be one of the most devastated FDNY units impacted by the collapse of the Twin Towers losing 11 members: Captain James M. Amato, Lt. Edward A. D'Atri, Lt. Michael Esposito, Lt. Michael N. Fodor, Brian Bilcher, Thomas M. Butler, Peter Carroll, Robert Cordice, David J. Fontana, Matthew David Garvey, and Stephen Gerard Siller. Squad 1 crossed Brooklyn Bridge
to respond to the attacks and was last seen in the south tower. The door of their pumper engine was recovered and is now on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History
.
New York City Fire Department
The New York City Fire Department or the Fire Department of the City of New York has the responsibility for protecting the citizens and property of New York City's five boroughs from fires and fire hazards, providing emergency medical services, technical rescue as well as providing first response...
(FDNY) Squad Company 1 is one of 7 Squads in the FDNY Special Operations Command (SOC). Other SOC units include Rescue, HazMat
Hazmat
Hazmat, HazMat and similar terms can refer to:* Hazardous materials and items—see Dangerous goods** Hazchem—a system of hazardous chemical classification and firefighting modes** A hazmat suit is a type of protective clothing...
and Marine. Squad 1 responds to fires and other emergencies throughout New York City, operating primarily in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. Squad 1 is located in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn. They are a single company which operates a Seagrave
Seagrave Fire Apparatus
Seagrave Fire Apparatus LLC is a manufacturer of fire apparatus that specializes in pumper and rescue units, as well as aerial towers. In addition to manufacturing new equipment, they refurbish, repair and upgrade older Seagrave apparatus, including National Fire Protection Association updates to...
Pumper, 1000 g.p.m. with a 500 gallon tank. There are currently four officers and twenty-five assigned to this company.
History
Squad 1 was organized in HarlemHarlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
at Engine 59 in 1955, moved to the Bronx at Ladder 58 in 1972, then to Engine 45 in 1975 and then disbanded in 1976. Squad 1 was re-established in 1977 in Brooklyn at 786 Union Street, the former quarters of Engine 269; which had been closed during the budget crisis. The local community had placed great pressure on the city to reopen the former house of Engine 269 and the city responded by reopening it and making it the new quarters for Squad 1.
The new Squad 1 was assigned a fully equipped pumper with ladder company hand and power tools. Squad 1’s responses included the former “first due” boxes of Engine 269 and working fires within a designated area. In 1998 New York City recognized the need to have more specialized units that could handle hazardous material incidents as well as increased readiness for incidents involving weapons of mass destruction. Six more engines were then designated as Squad Companies. Engine Company 41 was already an enhanced engine company but was redesigned as a Squad Company.
Squad 1 responds as an engine in its first, second and third due assignments and as a Squad Company to working fires, high angle, collapse, confined space, subway emergencies and hazardous material emergencies in Brooklyn and throughout the city as needed. Squad 1 responds to approximately 1800 runs per year.
September 11th Attacks
Squad 1 lost half of its squad at the World Trade CenterWorld Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
in the September 11th attacks. The squad would be one of the most devastated FDNY units impacted by the collapse of the Twin Towers losing 11 members: Captain James M. Amato, Lt. Edward A. D'Atri, Lt. Michael Esposito, Lt. Michael N. Fodor, Brian Bilcher, Thomas M. Butler, Peter Carroll, Robert Cordice, David J. Fontana, Matthew David Garvey, and Stephen Gerard Siller. Squad 1 crossed Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River...
to respond to the attacks and was last seen in the south tower. The door of their pumper engine was recovered and is now on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History
The National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center collects, preserves and displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. Among the items on display are the original Star-Spangled Banner and Archie Bunker's...
.