nfd2004

"Westchester" it is true what you say. And you make a good point, it doesn't matter if it's in the firehouse in NYC or the volunteer monthly meeting for the fire or EMS group. And as the saying goes: "Whatever you say can and will be used against you in a court of law". I recently visited a career fire house in a large city in Connecticut. My brother once worked in that firehouse and I remember going there when everybody was talking and joking at the kitchen table. And in between that talking and joking, they were flowing water on fires whether it was a car fire, a rubbish fire or a three frame. They were a tight group of individuals. I went to that same firehouse last year. Sat at that same kitchen table and other than my buddy talking to me, no buddy else said anything. It's really sad how things have changed over the years. I'm just glad that I was a part of it when things were GREAT. And through no fault of their own, most guys today will never really understand what we are talking about.

An early 6 am call to a woman in labor. The first chance the two guys I was with, and myself, ever had a chance to deliever a baby. On the floor, the healthy baby was delievered and the mommy was doing fine. Everything went great until I told the mother she had a baby girl. Her response was very short and to the point. She said; "I don't want it". Such a great event in our lives to bring in a human being and then hearing that. I don't know what ever happened to that mother or baby girl. Of course we had reported what the mother said to the hospital. My wife and I never had any kids, but I sometimes think that maybe we should have tried to adopt her.

I went on the fire dept in 1975. I didn't know anybody. I thought I made a mistake taking the job. I thought these guys in the firehouse hated me. But I found out in a short time that it was actually the opposite. Very strong friendships developed. Actually, we all seemed to enjoy the attention. Name calling, joking, verbal abuse was all part of the firehouse. When one of us needed help at home for whatever reason, those guys were right there. It didn't matter who you were. Things started to change in the mid 90s. You couldn't say things that we used to say. There was a change in the overall firehouse atmosphere. Life in the firehouse changed. Suddenly we were like kids in school being told what we could say and what we couldn't say. Those guys that busted my stones years ago get together for a Country Breakfast once a month now. We act the same way as we did back in the 70s and 80s at the firehouse kitchen table. The other people in the restraunt get a free comedy show when we're all there. Our mannerism doesn't seem to bother those people in that restraunt and it certainly doesn't bother us. I'm just glad I got a chance to have a great group of guys give me plenty of verbal abuse over the years. And I gave it back too.

Thank you for that information. If anybody can put that hose to the test, it will be the FDNY, and those FDNY companies are some of the busiest. Thanks "MAC8146" for your detailed info also.

Thank you for remembering.

Not only a murderer, but how many innocent people lost their limbs and are paying a price because of this guys vicioius attack.

Alex, that's a good question and now that you bring it up, I'm not really sure. I know that for the Waterbury firefighters (and police) there were some painful give backs forced onto them. As for Detroit, what is now a burned out wasteland will probadly some day become the kind of area that most of us wish we had invested in. Lets face it, it can't get worse, it can only get better. (Alex being from Connecticut I heard that once burned out area in Bridgeport, off of I-95, is now supposed to be developed, into what, I'm not sure)

Izzy, I think Waterbury, Ct DID declare bankrupcy, and today, somehow, the city is surviving. Twenty years from now, I can see Detroit as a model city. No place in the world was worse than huge ghetto areas of New York City during the 70s and 80s. Blocks and blocks, actually miles and miles of large burned out buildings. Garbage and burned out cars on every block. The change started with one area approximately three square blocks. It was right off of I-95 and an industrial park was built that had once been a large area of burned out buildings, piles of bricks and trash. Shortly after that came a few blocks in the area of Charlotte St and 170 St in the South Bronx. The area had been visited by both Presidents Reegan and later President Carter. It resembled parts of Germany after WWII. Today, that neighborhood is home to raised ranch houses with yards and white picket fences. A few miles away is a Days Inn Motel. It is advertised as a short distance from Yankee Stadium. That Days Inn Motel was once an abdonded burned out factory similiar to what the City of Detroit has today. Private investors made the first move with that Industrial Park. Private home ownership on Charlotte St in the South Bronx made the second move. Today it is hard to find a vacant building or an abdonded car on any street in NYC. Back in the 80s I just thought the place would have to be written off. I was wrong. It didn't happen. In fact many of those once burned out ghetto neighborhoods have gone from cheap low income housing to expensive condo units and apartments. Sections like Harlem in Manhattan and Williamsburg in Brooklyn, once ghetto areas are now big SSSS. I'm not the guy that will invest in Detroit. But somebody will. And my guess is that things will change for the better when the right people see what this major US city has to offer. I believe if it worked in NYC when a place like the Bronx couldn't afford to pay for its own services, my guess it could work in a place like Detroit too.

Thank you. Great story of Mans Best Friend.

Thanks Alex. I appreciate that. Let the world know about this guy. I can't believe how anybody can use such a tragic event to profit from. His lies on You Tube really get to me.

I wish I knew how to post this on a few other sites. I would be more than happy to spread the word.

June 17, 1972 was the Boston Fire Depts most Tragic Day. On that day, Nine Boston Firefighters were killed after fighting a Four alarm fire at the Hotel Vendome. The fire had been brought under control when without warning the building collapsed. The firefighters who were killed were; Lt James Carroll Eng 32 Lt John Hansbury Lad 13 FF Thomas Beckwith Eng 32 FF James Boucher Eng 22 FF Charles Dolan Lad 13 FF John Janson Eng 22 FF Richard Magee Eng 33 FF Paul Murphy Eng 32 FF Joseph Savnick Lad 13

My buffing, stem whacking, whatever anybody wants to call it, has been going on for about 40 years. Had a few years as a volly and about 30 years on the job. I never had any problem either buffing the jobs or stopping in at a firehouse. But I did make the mistake of every once in awhile bringing a guy who would tell these guys how much "he knew". Pretty embarrassing to say the least. I always admired the firefighters in the cities that I regularly buffed. Boston, Providence, Bridgeport, Newark, a few others and of course the FDNY where I had a pretty steady diet of that place. Watching these guys in action taught me a lot more than any book on the subject. Now at 64 years old, I'm not able to run down the street as fast as I once did. I carry an extra 50-60 lbs around now, and what hair I have is all white. But I still enjoy it as much as I did then. Only thing is the faces have changed. Other than that, lines still get stretched, ladders get raised, and water still puts out fires. And now as a buff, who is on the outside looking in, I certainly admire these firefighters for what they do. You certainly have my respect.

"Tear down this Wall". Those famous words were once spoken by the late President Ronald Reagan. Those were the words he once said to then Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev. He was referring to a large cement and brick wall topped with razor wire, which physically divided the City of Berlin and the entire country of Germany. On the West side of that Wall in West Berlin, was a Free Country and Free Demorcracy. On the East side of the Wall in East Berlin was a Communist Country with no Freedoms. Recently I had the opportunity to visit one of the Stamford, Ct Firehouses. I was invited to the quarters of Engine 8 which is on Vine Rd, about seven tenths of a mile south of the Merritt Parkway. That evening when I got off the Parkway was a firehouse to the left. I was later told that is Turn of the River Fire Depts quarters. A large, maybe three bay firehouse, that really isn't that old. So I headed south and three traffic lights was Vine Rd. Turned left and Stamford Fire Station 8 was right there. When I got there I found a trailer mounted on a slab and a seperate single bay garage with the words Engine 8 on the top of it. It reminded me of some firehouse in the middle of nowhere in one of our very poor rural areas. This certainly wasn't what I expected to see in Connecticuts Fourth Largest City, in one of the richest counties in the country. (Fairfield County, Ct). That firehouse is the home of Three Stamford Firefighters, One Officer and Two Firefighters per shift. When I got there we talked about some of the older rigs that Stamford FD had, and of course of the Stamford Fire Dept how it is today. With two firehouses within 7/10s of a mile of each other I asked; "why aren't you up the street in that other firehouse". The answer was: "We Are NOT Allowed in There" The Stamford Firefighters are NOT allowed in there. I couldn't believe that ! Instead the City of Stamford must pay rent for that property to operate that Trailer mounted on a slab as Stamford Fire Station 8 with a seperate single bay garage. I asked how long they have been operating out of this trailer, and the officer told me, Four Years. When a run comes in, these Stamford Firefighters must go outside into that garage, regardless of the the weather: snow, rain, wind, whatever, before they can get on the rig. All while a large firehouse, that is probadly empty sits Less than 7/10s of a mile away. In fact, while I was there, a run did come in. They responded to a call in one of the other volunteer areas. At that call was what appeared to me as a very young volunteer chief. Later I asked one of the Stamford Firefighters if that was the chief of the volunteer dept and I was told "yes, and he's 26 years old". Another shock that I just had a hard time understanding. Maybe he knows his stuff, I just wouldn't feel confortable taking orders from a 26 year old fire chief. Would you feel confortable taking orders on the fireground from a 26 year old ? Now please understand, I am NOT putting that dept down. As I said, maybe that chief knows his stuff. In fact, I was actually pretty impressed with the members of that volunteer dept. And as I looked around, I happened to notice a well respected FDNY Officer from a very busy company, driving one of the rigs. He certainly has alot more firefighting experience than I ever did. I was later told that there is also another Stamford fire station that is even closer to one of the volunteer firehouses that the Stamford Firefighters are NOT allowed to use and the taxpayers must pay the bills on that Stamford fire station also. I believe that is Stamford Fire Station 9. Maybe there isn't a cement and brick wall with razor wire dividing the Fourth Largest City in Connecticut. But there certainly is a Wall in Stamford. It may not be physical, but its there. Recently a decision was approved to combine all Five Stamford Volunteer Fire Depts into one dept., and with one leader. A combination career/volunteer dept. I hope that this Wall can be torn down, just as that Berlin Wall was torn down decades ago. And the City of Stamford is only one example. Stamford just happens to be in the spotlight at the moment. There's more depts out there that also need to Tear Down Their Walls.

I believe that FDNY member does live in Westchester County, but just over the Stamford, Ct line. But my main focus was not to point that out, but how one city could be so divided when it comes to it's fire protection. A similiar situtation faces other depts in Connecticut, and I hope when all is said and done, One Fire Dept will protect the citizens of Stamford, Ct., and that the Stamford Fire Dept will become a Role Model for other fire depts to follow.

I have depended on "sfrd.." for much information regarding many depts. He is a buff and a volunteer firefighter. I don't think it is in his nature to try and impress you. He has a wealth of knowledge about many departments throughout the northeast. Is he right 100 % ? Maybe not. Maybe he wasn't right this time, But if I was a gambling man, I'd put my money on what he says. And at 22 years old, or there abouts, "I think he's a Credit to his generation". I hope he isn't discouraged from posting on here because of some misunderstanding. I'm sure there's more than a few of us who sometimes have our stories or facts somewhat distorted on various occussions. If I thought he was some cocky, know-it-all kid, I'd never posting here in his defense.

Is Chief Munson a Retired High Ranking Chief from the FDNY ? Also a former Lt of FDNYs Eng 50, and Capt of Eng 82 during those busy FDNY War Years ? Do I have the right guy ?

Thanks "sfd...", and hopefully, we can get a few more from some of the other cities and towns of the Nutmeg State (Ct).

Not only did he reach that mark, but I must say that I always enjoy reading his post. Presents his facts well. Thank you for your contributations.

Same thing with me my friend. You explained it very well too. Maybe the same guy. It was the McDs on Southern Blvd and Fordham Rd in the Bronx that it happened to me. I handed him a burger and he said "I don't want no damn burger". They ask for money to buy some Micky Ds burgers, but don't want you to buy it for them. I once stopped at a rest area off the highway. It was in the morning and the guy said he had no money for gas to go to work. Later that evening, same guy, same story but now on the opposite side of the highway.

Yes Typical. No surprises. This is what street life is all about. You look and feel sorry for some homeless guy with no socks or shoes. Try to help him out, but he'd rather get a quick ten bucks than have warm shoes and socks on in December in NYC.

I have heard a rumor that this homeless individual later "sold these shoes". I hope it's not true. But either way, that still doesn't take away what this police officer did. And I can tell you this, as others have stated, this is NOT the first act of kindness that many of our public servents often do. I've seen many myself. Most people have no idea of what goes on in some of the streets of America on a daily basis. And as I write this, latest word is that there are still 12,000 homeless just in NYC alone. They still have no homes to go to after over a month from Storm Sandy. I know its a bit off subject, but lets not forget them. They still need our help.

I certainly agree "JetPhoto". Many times throughout this country acts similiar to this go on. Police Officers, firefighters, EMTs and even J.Q. Citizen do similiar acts, except they don't get caught on camera. I know one time where a group of firefighters gave a funeral to a homeless man who was found dead in a vacant lot. This police officer wasn't a politician looking for a good photo opportunity. He wasn't even looking for a "pat on the back". He just happened to have a camera focused on him that he didn't even know was there. This homeless individual could have maybe been a War Hero at one time. Maybe he lost his job. Maybe at one time he also helped others. Its just nice to know that we still do have some good people left like this NYPD Officer. And for those that thought it was funny seeing a guy with no shoes and socks to wear on a cold night, my wish is, "what comes around, goes around". And that someday, these wish azz individuals can get their bare feet laughed at.