Fire Engines Photos

Looks like one of the 79 Suburbans purchased in 1999.This vehicle was located at 251-255 Lafayette Street in Manhattan and located with Ladder Company 20,a 2002 Seagrave JT 100'TDA.Also on station at that time was a 2002 Rescue Unit-Rescue Co 6(reserve apparatus)which was a Freightliner/American Lafrance and also a 2000 International 4700/Morgan Truck Body Collapse Unit(reserve).

Added by Pete Matten on 31 May 2009.

Can anyone explain the reason for the rear red warning lights and why they mounted as they are.
I would have thought that the light bar would be sufficient.

Added by Bob on 31 May 2009.

Well whats afew more lights around New Yorks Broadway.Actually,on my first visit back in 2002 to New York,its not only amazing to hear the sounds of the FDNY but even though the area's so well lit,the lights on these Battalion Chiefs suburbans being so high really did stand out, especially around the Broadway area where its a continuous traffic nightmare.

Added by Pete Matten on 01 June 2009.

Just realised I actually took a picture of this actual vehicle outside Ladder Co 20's quarters on my last visit to New York in 2007.Its definitely one of the 79 Suburbans from the 1999 batch.

Added by Pete Matten on 01 June 2009.

Way back in 1979 - get this - I was watching an Engine (Pumper) responding in Manhattan traffic lights, sirens, everything going.

It was trying to make a left-hand turn, across the traffic, at an intersection.

To get the line of cars cars to stop and let them through - the fireman sitting behind the driver had his window down, and was FLAGGING these cars down with his arm, until someone finally stopped and they were able to cross, without collision....

It seemed to be a SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) and that was 30 years-less traffic ago.

The crews were just being moved forward, into the cab, from riding the rear step - in Manhattan traffic, wow.

In "The City That Never Sleeps"; you obviously can never have enough Warning Devices....

Gee, Pete M., quite The Fount of Knowledge on NYFD!

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 02 June 2009.

Those rear lights are actually two bars - one hinged on the right, one on the left. They flip upward, so you get two vertical columns of lights.

Added by Mike Feldman on 02 June 2009.

Pat R_B,I did alot of research on the FDNY afew years ago and had several articles published in fire magazines over here in the UK.Back in the old days before we could afford computers,(the days of pen-pals)I used to write to friends in New York City and USA,and over the years good information from those friends,and also the Fire Dept came my way,also approx some 200 pictures.
Its truly a shame I can't send some of these old pictures into the site(copyright)but I did have the permission to use some in my publication,but sadly I certainly cannot use on a website.
Any questions,I'd be only to pleased to try and answer them for anyone.....OK.
PS.The above vehicle(DIV 1)belongs to the Medical Division which is located at these quarters,it is not a Battalion Chiefs vehicle.

Added by Pete Matten on 02 June 2009.

I'm with Pete on this one, you would be able to see the lights above most of the traffic in some of the very busy streets.I will try and find out the reason when I visit in September 2009. This will be my fourth visit to New York since October 2001, this time I am taking part in a charity run called "Tunnel to Towers Run" which is held annually. It retraces the fateful footsteps of a FDNY firefighter called Stephen Siller who was a firefighter with Squad one in Brooklyn he was off duty when he heard about the aircraft into the World Trade towers 9/11. When his route by car was blocked he decided to run the rest of the journey on foot, he unfortunatly died before he could meet up with Squad One. I am running to raise funds for the Firefighters Charity which used to be known as the firemans Ben fund.

Added by Paul Warnock on 02 June 2009.

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