dragonrescue

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the Waldbaum's fire in Brooklyn, NY where 6 firefighters perished, when a bowstring truss roof collapsed, sending all to their fiery death. I remember this day like it was yesterday. My dad, Tony Dragonetti, was assigned to E-254 and worked the 9x6 tour. He was walking into the firehouse as 254 & 153 were pulling out onto Avenue U. He would have been on the roof in place of Terry Cambell who was badly burned. I was 14 and remember waking up to my mom's screams, when she heard the news of the fire on the radio. We took a ride to the scene from LI and found my dad sitting on the back of 254's rig in tears. I never saw my dad cry and my mom hug my dad like the way she did at that moment. I still well up with tears when I think about that scene. It was a sigh of relief for me to see my dad safe and extremely sad at the same time to hear him say the names of the guys that perished. I spent my entire childhood life and beyond at the firehouse and these brave men were my family and will always have a place in my heart. May they be remembered forever and RIP......

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the Waldbaum's fire in Brooklyn, NY where 6 firefighters perished, when a bowstring truss roof collapsed, sending all to their fiery death. I remember this day like it was yesterday. My dad, Tony Dragonetti, was assigned to E-254 and worked the 9x6 tour. He was walking into the firehouse as 254 & 153 were pulling out onto Avenue U. He would have been on the roof in place of Terry Cambell who was badly burned. I was 14 and remember waking up to my mom's screams, when she heard the news of the fire on the radio. We took a ride to the scene from LI and found my dad sitting on the back of 254's rig in tears. I never saw my dad cry and my mom hug my dad like the way she did at that moment. I still well up with tears when I think about that scene. It was a sigh of relief for me to see my dad safe and extremely sad at the same time to hear him say the names of the guys that perished. I spent my entire childhood life and beyond at the firehouse and these brave men were my family and will always have a place in my heart. May they be remembered forever and RIP......

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the Waldbaum's fire in Brooklyn, NY where 6 firefighters perished, when a bowstring truss roof collapsed, sending all to their fiery death. I remember this day like it was yesterday. My dad, Tony Dragonetti, was assigned to E-254 and worked the 9x6 tour. He was walking into the firehouse as 254 & 153 were pulling out onto Avenue U. He would have been on the roof in place of Terry Cambell who was badly burned. I was 14 and remember waking up to my mom's screams, when she heard the news of the fire on the radio. We took a ride to the scene from LI and found my dad sitting on the back of 254's rig in tears. I never saw my dad cry and my mom hug my dad like the way she did at that moment. I still well up with tears when I think about that scene. It was a sigh of relief for me to see my dad safe and extremely sad at the same time to hear him say the names of the guys that perished. I spent my entire childhood life and beyond at the firehouse and these brave men were my family and will always have a place in my heart. May they be remembered forever and RIP......

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the Waldbaum's fire in Brooklyn, NY where 6 firefighters perished, when a bowstring truss roof collapsed, sending all to their fiery death. I remember this day like it was yesterday. My dad, Tony Dragonetti, was assigned to E-254 and worked the 9x6 tour. He was walking into the firehouse as 254 & 153 were pulling out onto Avenue U. He would have been on the roof in place of Terry Cambell who was badly burned. I was 14 and remember waking up to my mom's screams, when she heard the news of the fire on the radio. We took a ride to the scene from LI and found my dad sitting on the back of 254's rig in tears. I never saw my dad cry and my mom hug my dad like the way she did at that moment. I still well up with tears when I think about that scene. It was a sigh of relief for me to see my dad safe and extremely sad at the same time to hear him say the names of the guys that perished. I spent my entire childhood life and beyond at the firehouse and these brave men were my family and will always have a place in my heart. May they be remembered forever and RIP......

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the Waldbaum's fire in Brooklyn, NY where 6 firefighters perished, when a bowstring truss roof collapsed, sending all to their fiery death. I remember this day like it was yesterday. My dad, Tony Dragonetti, was assigned to E-254 and worked the 9x6 tour. He was walking into the firehouse as 254 & 153 were pulling out onto Avenue U. He would have been on the roof in place of Terry Cambell who was badly burned. I was 14 and remember waking up to my mom's screams, when she heard the news of the fire on the radio. We took a ride to the scene from LI and found my dad sitting on the back of 254's rig in tears. I never saw my dad cry and my mom hug my dad like the way she did at that moment. I still well up with tears when I think about that scene. It was a sigh of relief for me to see my dad safe and extremely sad at the same time to hear him say the names of the guys that perished. I spent my entire childhood life and beyond at the firehouse and these brave men were my family and will always have a place in my heart. May they be remembered forever and RIP......

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the Waldbaum's fire in Brooklyn, NY where 6 firefighters perished, when a bowstring truss roof collapsed, sending all to their fiery death. I remember this day like it was yesterday. My dad, Tony Dragonetti, was assigned to E-254 and worked the 9x6 tour. He was walking into the firehouse as 254 & 153 were pulling out onto Avenue U. He would have been on the roof in place of Terry Cambell who was badly burned. I was 14 and remember waking up to my mom's screams, when she heard the news of the fire on the radio. We took a ride to the scene from LI and found my dad sitting on the back of 254's rig in tears. I never saw my dad cry and my mom hug my dad like the way she did at that moment. I still well up with tears when I think about that scene. It was a sigh of relief for me to see my dad safe and extremely sad at the same time to hear him say the names of the guys that perished. I spent my entire childhood life and beyond at the firehouse and these brave men were my family and will always have a place in my heart. May they be remembered forever and RIP......

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the Waldbaum's fire in Brooklyn, NY where 6 firefighters perished, when a bowstring truss roof collapsed, sending all to their fiery death. I remember this day like it was yesterday. My dad, Tony Dragonetti, was assigned to E-254 and worked the 9x6 tour. He was walking into the firehouse as 254 & 153 were pulling out onto Avenue U. He would have been on the roof in place of Terry Cambell who was badly burned. I was 14 and remember waking up to my mom's screams, when she heard the news of the fire on the radio. We took a ride to the scene from LI and found my dad sitting on the back of 254's rig in tears. I never saw my dad cry and my mom hug my dad like the way she did at that moment. I still well up with tears when I think about that scene. It was a sigh of relief for me to see my dad safe and extremely sad at the same time to hear him say the names of the guys that perished. I spent my entire childhood life and beyond at the firehouse and these brave men were my family and will always have a place in my heart. May they be remembered forever and RIP......

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the Waldbaum's fire in Brooklyn, NY where 6 firefighters perished, when a bowstring truss roof collapsed, sending all to their fiery death. I remember this day like it was yesterday. My dad, Tony Dragonetti, was assigned to E-254 and worked the 9x6 tour. He was walking into the firehouse as 254 & 153 were pulling out onto Avenue U. He would have been on the roof in place of Terry Cambell who was badly burned. I was 14 and remember waking up to my mom's screams, when she heard the news of the fire on the radio. We took a ride to the scene from LI and found my dad sitting on the back of 254's rig in tears. I never saw my dad cry and my mom hug my dad like the way she did at that moment. I still well up with tears when I think about that scene. It was a sigh of relief for me to see my dad safe and extremely sad at the same time to hear him say the names of the guys that perished. I spent my entire childhood life and beyond at the firehouse and these brave men were my family and will always have a place in my heart. May they be remembered forever and RIP......

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the Waldbaum's fire in Brooklyn, NY where 6 firefighters perished, when a bowstring truss roof collapsed, sending all to their fiery death. I remember this day like it was yesterday. My dad, Tony Dragonetti, was assigned to E-254 and worked the 9x6 tour. He was walking into the firehouse as 254 & 153 were pulling out onto Avenue U. He would have been on the roof in place of Terry Cambell who was badly burned. I was 14 and remember waking up to my mom's screams, when she heard the news of the fire on the radio. We took a ride to the scene from LI and found my dad sitting on the back of 254's rig in tears. I never saw my dad cry and my mom hug my dad like the way she did at that moment. I still well up with tears when I think about that scene. It was a sigh of relief for me to see my dad safe and extremely sad at the same time to hear him say the names of the guys that perished. I spent my entire childhood life and beyond at the firehouse and these brave men were my family and will always have a place in my heart. May they be remembered forever and RIP......

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the Waldbaum's fire in Brooklyn, NY where 6 firefighters perished, when a bowstring truss roof collapsed, sending all to their fiery death. I remember this day like it was yesterday. My dad, Tony Dragonetti, was assigned to E-254 and worked the 9x6 tour. He was walking into the firehouse as 254 & 153 were pulling out onto Avenue U. He would have been on the roof in place of Terry Cambell who was badly burned. I was 14 and remember waking up to my mom's screams, when she heard the news of the fire on the radio. We took a ride to the scene from LI and found my dad sitting on the back of 254's rig in tears. I never saw my dad cry and my mom hug my dad like the way she did at that moment. I still well up with tears when I think about that scene. It was a sigh of relief for me to see my dad safe and extremely sad at the same time to hear him say the names of the guys that perished. I spent my entire childhood life and beyond at the firehouse and these brave men were my family and will always have a place in my heart. May they be remembered forever and RIP......

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the Waldbaum's fire in Brooklyn, NY where 6 firefighters perished, when a bowstring truss roof collapsed, sending all to their fiery death. I remember this day like it was yesterday. My dad, Tony Dragonetti, was assigned to E-254 and worked the 9x6 tour. He was walking into the firehouse as 254 & 153 were pulling out onto Avenue U. He would have been on the roof in place of Terry Cambell who was badly burned. I was 14 and remember waking up to my mom's screams, when she heard the news of the fire on the radio. We took a ride to the scene from LI and found my dad sitting on the back of 254's rig in tears. I never saw my dad cry and my mom hug my dad like the way she did at that moment. I still well up with tears when I think about that scene. It was a sigh of relief for me to see my dad safe and extremely sad at the same time to hear him say the names of the guys that perished. I spent my entire childhood life and beyond at the firehouse and these brave men were my family and will always have a place in my heart. May they be remembered forever and RIP......

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the Waldbaum's fire in Brooklyn, NY where 6 firefighters perished, when a bowstring truss roof collapsed, sending all to their fiery death. I remember this day like it was yesterday. My dad, Tony Dragonetti, was assigned to E-254 and worked the 9x6 tour. He was walking into the firehouse as 254 & 153 were pulling out onto Avenue U. He would have been on the roof in place of Terry Cambell who was badly burned. I was 14 and remember waking up to my mom's screams, when she heard the news of the fire on the radio. We took a ride to the scene from LI and found my dad sitting on the back of 254's rig in tears. I never saw my dad cry and my mom hug my dad like the way she did at that moment. I still well up with tears when I think about that scene. It was a sigh of relief for me to see my dad safe and extremely sad at the same time to hear him say the names of the guys that perished. I spent my entire childhood life and beyond at the firehouse and these brave men were my family and will always have a place in my heart. May they be remembered forever and RIP......

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the Waldbaum's fire in Brooklyn, NY where 6 firefighters perished, when a bowstring truss roof collapsed, sending all to their fiery death. I remember this day like it was yesterday. My dad, Tony Dragonetti, was assigned to E-254 and worked the 9x6 tour. He was walking into the firehouse as 254 & 153 were pulling out onto Avenue U. He would have been on the roof in place of Terry Cambell who was badly burned. I was 14 and remember waking up to my mom's screams, when she heard the news of the fire on the radio. We took a ride to the scene from LI and found my dad sitting on the back of 254's rig in tears. I never saw my dad cry and my mom hug my dad like the way she did at that moment. I still well up with tears when I think about that scene. It was a sigh of relief for me to see my dad safe and extremely sad at the same time to hear him say the names of the guys that perished. I spent my entire childhood life and beyond at the firehouse and these brave men were my family and will always have a place in my heart. May they be remembered forever and RIP......

Taping the haligan also prevents sliding the axe along the shaft for striking purposes in really bad visibility situations. The haligan needs to be squared off at the shoulder of the fork end to accomplish this task. It's part of tuning up the the irons. It's imperative to keep all tools, especially the irons, clean and sharp. You wouldn't eat with a dull knife and dirty fork!

Dear Captain Benz,
Climbing a ladder can be awkward for some. Add tools to the equation and it can be really awkward. Both hands on the ladder is obviously the safest way to go. What I like to do is hook the tool(s) to the rung at my furthest reach, then proceed up the ladder and repeat the process until I reach my destination(you vertically challenged guys will have to repeat the process more than I will). If your have a tool that cannot be hooked securely (ie. flat head axe), I carry an over-sized aluminum carabiner clipped to my flashlight strap. Just slide the tool in, handle first, and viola'- hands free again. You can also use a 20'- 24' piece of 1" tubular webbing and create a sling. You would still need the over-sized carabiner.
Love Dragon

No matter how much time passes! No matter how many bad decissions our government makes! No matter how hard they try to wipe this memory from our minds! Think back on this day and never forget........................

I
remember this day like it was yesterday. My dad, Tony Dragonetti, was
assigned to E-254 and worked the 9x6 tour. He was walking into the
firehouse as E-254 & L-153 were pulling out onto Avenue U. He would
have been on the roof in place of Terry Cambell who was badly burned. I was 14 and remember waking up to my mom's screams,
when she heard the news of the fire on the radio. We took a ride to the
scene from LI and found my dad sitting on the back step of 254's rig in
tears (my dad never cries). I never saw my mom hug my dad like the way she did at that
moment. I still well up with tears when I think about that scene. It
was a sigh of relief for me to see my dad safe and extremely sad at the
same time to hear him say the names of the guys that perished. I spent
my entire childhood life and beyond at the firehouse on Avenue U and these brave
men were my family and will always have a place in my heart. May they
be remembered forever and RIP......
6 NYC firefighters lost their lives at the Waldbaum's fire on August 2, 1978. This was the largest loss of firefighters in a single fire in Brooklyn. The firefighters died at the fire when the roof collapsed, and 34 others were injured. At the time, it was the worst single disastrous fire for FDNY.
The heroic firefighters who died are FF George Rice, 38, Ladder 153, FF James McManus, 48. Cov. Lt. James Cutillo, 39, 33rd Batt., FF Harold Hastings, 39, 42nd Batt., FF Charles Bouton,38, L. 156 and William O'Connor,29 of L. 156.

I
remember this day like it was yesterday. My dad, Tony Dragonetti, was
assigned to E-254 and worked the 9x6 tour. He was walking into the
firehouse as E-254 & L-153 were pulling out onto Avenue U. He would
have been on the roof in place of Terry Cambell who was badly burned. I was 14 and remember waking up to my mom's screams,
when she heard the news of the fire on the radio. We took a ride to the
scene from LI and found my dad sitting on the back step of 254's rig in
tears (my dad never cries). I never saw my mom hug my dad like the way she did at that
moment. I still well up with tears when I think about that scene. It
was a sigh of relief for me to see my dad safe and extremely sad at the
same time to hear him say the names of the guys that perished. I spent
my entire childhood life and beyond at the firehouse on Avenue U and these brave
men were my family and will always have a place in my heart. May they
be remembered forever and RIP......
6 NYC firefighters lost their lives at the Waldbaum's fire on August 2, 1978. This was the largest loss of firefighters in a single fire in Brooklyn. The firefighters died at the fire when the roof collapsed, and 34 others were injured. At the time, it was the worst single disastrous fire for FDNY.
The heroic firefighters who died are FF George Rice, 38, Ladder 153, FF James McManus, 48. Cov. Lt. James Cutillo, 39, 33rd Batt., FF Harold Hastings, 39, 42nd Batt., FF Charles Bouton,38, L. 156 and William O'Connor,29 of L. 156.

I would like to dedicate this link to the mayors new proposal......

That response doesn't need much thought! 99subi koodos to you for telling it like it is. It's a well known thought process with guys like yourself (gamewell45), for sticking your head in the sand. If you can just convince yourself to see the big picture, things would be more clear for you. The day of the dedicated, blue collar, working in town, volunteer firefighter is a thing of the past. I was one of those vollies and miss those days. It's time to move on my volunteer "brother".......

Gentlemen,
I started this topic, because I had a hunch that there would be just a few responses. The problem is there is no game plan. It is imperative that this county and others around it get on the same page and start putting together a game plan. Volly or Paid stuff has to stop because that big train wreck is coming!!!!!!!!!!!! We need to stop using this site for bashing and use it for being proactive. It always seems that the majority of this site likes to comment on negative crap and it's getting old.
Stay Safe
Mike

I would like to keep the ball rolling that Bobby Benz started a few weeks ago and help keep this sight for what it was intended, TRAINING!
I received an e-mail this morning from a close friend of mine who is assigned to Special Hazards 1 in Providence, RI. He has a buddy who is on the job in Belgium and was working the day of the train wreck that killed 18 people and injured many more. I normally send these e-mails out to my distribution lists, but felt this would be a great place to discuss if we are prepared for something like this happening here in the North East. Look trough the photos in the link below, especially photo #81 on. The body of the rail cars tear apart from the truck portion and ended up high in the air. Aside from stopping all rail traffic and making sure we have enough help on the way, stabilization would be our first and foremost priority before we started the evacuation and disentanglement process. What equipment do we carry on the rigs that would do the job? What resources do we have that can be called in to assist with this task? This is beyond normal wood cribbing and pneumatic equipment. Are there cranes that would be available to assist us in stabilizing and can we get them in to the location of the wreck? OK, the scenario is out there, lets see what you got! LOL
http://picasaweb.google.com/TomVier/15_02_10Treinramp#

I would like to keep the ball rolling that Bobby Benz started a few weeks ago and help keep this sight for what it was intended, TRAINING!
I received an e-mail this morning from a close friend of mine who is assigned to Special Hazards 1 in Providence, RI. He has a buddy who is on the job in Belgium and was working the day of the train wreck that killed 18 people and injured many more. I normally send these e-mails out to my distribution lists, but felt this would be a great place to discuss if we are prepared for something like this happening here in the North East. Look trough the photos in the link below, especially photo #81 on. The body of the rail cars tear apart from the truck portion and ended up high in the air. Aside from stopping all rail traffic and making sure we have enough help on the way, stabilization would be our first and foremost priority before we started the evacuation and disentanglement process. What equipment do we carry on the rigs that would do the job? What resources do we have that can be called in to assist with this task? This is beyond normal wood cribbing and pneumatic equipment. Are there cranes that would be available to assist us in stabilizing and can we get them in to the location of the wreck? OK, the scenario is out there, lets see what you got! LOL
http://picasaweb.google.com/TomVier/15_02_10Treinramp#

What personal light weight tools do you carry and do they have multiple uses?
Items that I carry and use almost every tour of duty:
Helmet (rubber strap)
• Wood door chocks
o

Propping open doors
o Sprinkler wedge
o

Creating a gap when forcing doors alone
• Common 10d nails
o

Propping open doors (light weight & inexpensive to replace)
• Back up flashlight
• Picture of my wife & kids (taped inside)
o



Reminds not to get complacentCoat
• Pocket mask (inside pocket)
• Medical gloves (stored in pocket mask)
• Short 25’ utility rope
o

Team search
o

Hoisting/lowering tools
o

General lashing
• 24’ of 1” tubular webbing
o

Stored inside a medical glove to keep dry
o

Too many uses to mention
o

Will post something on that later
• Safety glasses (Borkes are cool but don’t protect you)
• Keys clipped to coat
o

Metro North RR
o

Fireman service
o

Firehouse
Pants (Class 2 harness & bailout system/ pre-rigged)
(Left pocket)
• “Through the lock” multi tool (Swiss army style) which includes:
o

Key tool
o

5/32” square tool (fox & police locks)
o

Shove knife
o

Screw driver (Philips & flat head)
•

Large “Robo Grip” channel lock (multiple uses)
(Right pocket)
• Utility knife, heavy duty side cutter, medical shears
o I keep them in my right pocket for escape reasons. Easier access during low profile & full escape SCBA procedures.
(Over the shoulder)
Main flashlight attached to a quick release strap with an over-sized carabiner for hands free tool carrying and mechanical advantage use.
I also carry 2 pairs of utility gloves. One for rope jobs and one for extrication purposes. Don't use one pair for both!
Hopefully I didn't leave anything out. Always looking for input on this, so I can lighten the load.

As Chief Rafferty stated, it would be close to impossible to snap a haligan. As far as relying solely on the car top stop switch is a bad idea. It is not a power switch, it just interrupts the safety circuit. There is no way of knowing if the stop switch is operating correctly either. Take the time out and kill the main line in the motor room. Use the car top stop switch as a back-up to killing the main line disconnect.
Stay safe
Mike Dragonetti