This old fire-fighter started in 1960 in a large city, and we wore bunker pants only at night, and I never though about it. Regular shiny shoes and work pants in daytime. We had almost no worthwhile mask, just a smoke filter type, so we went in without any. Now if it was obvious the area was probably devoid of O2 we had a couple steel bottles with pure O2 we could use, that is until one man lost his ears to fire on his hair which was fed by the O2 leaking from the mask. Shortly after we went to compressed air bottles but those steel bottles were heavy. We used cotton hose with brass couplings that we had to hang after every wet use. We rode 3 or 4 men on the tailboard and on the sides of the truck companies. A driver had to know his hydraulics real good as engines were all 2 stage and water tanks were just 150 to 200 gallons. But, I loved it all. I finished with 42 years and would do it all over again. GOD bless the brave men and women in the fire and related services.
I started in '81. Rode the back step for the first 6 months until assigned to an engine with jump seats, Then no roof. Our SCBA (The Scotts with a silver dollar regulator) were in bags on the side. The Capt had a 15 minute sling pack up front. You had to be quick putting it on or else just give up, go in and keep your face by the nozzle.
When I was on my honeymoon in Bermuda, I met an FDNY Division Chief at the Club we stayed at. After giving him a book to read at the pool, I jokingly said, "In return I want to ride-a-long down in the City." About a month later, I'm vacuuming the living room, and the phone rings. "Hey Erich it's Chief Bell..." "Chief Bell??" "Yeah, Bermuda, I did as you asked, meet me tomorrow at Division 3's quarters, we'll have lunch, then I'll drive you to Engine 54/Truck 4's house, you'll stay the weekend. YESSS!! I brought the guys a huge cheesecake and a box of Italian cookies. They made a nice pork loin dinner the next night at around 6 o'clock, but since we went out the door what seemed like every 15 minutes, we did'nt eat until 10:30! What a nice weekend it was.
In ALL of these old fire videos (none) of the Fireman are wearing any breathing masks or wearing any oxygen tanks. Just great for their health. Hard to believe today.
Looks better than what was placed before me one day. Potato Lasagna. Lasagna noodles, layered with mashed potatoes and a thickened, pasty white sauce. "Cook" was pissed when I added pepper to it.
1:18 the correct way to slide a pole. Using the crook of your arm at the elbow is how it’s done! None of this two hands holding the brass making a high pitched squeal all the way down.
Old LAFD Station 27. When it was first built, it was the largest station west of the Mississippi. It's the LAFD museum now. The current Station 27 which was built next door, is still packed with apparatus.
Boston had a superstation downtown on Oliver st. If I remember correctly they had 2 engines , 2 ladders, rescue company, squirt unit and various chiefs.
You have to be a man to be a Fireman. Will someone tell that to these DEI people !
This old fire-fighter started in 1960 in a large city, and we wore bunker pants only at night, and I never though about it. Regular shiny shoes and work pants in daytime. We had almost no worthwhile mask, just a smoke filter type, so we went in without any. Now if it was obvious the area was probably devoid of O2 we had a couple steel bottles with pure O2 we could use, that is until one man lost his ears to fire on his hair which was fed by the O2 leaking from the mask. Shortly after we went to compressed air bottles but those steel bottles were heavy. We used cotton hose with brass couplings that we had to hang after every wet use. We rode 3 or 4 men on the tailboard and on the sides of the truck companies. A driver had to know his hydraulics real good as engines were all 2 stage and water tanks were just 150 to 200 gallons. But, I loved it all. I finished with 42 years and would do it all over again. GOD bless the brave men and women in the fire and related services.
I started in '81. Rode the back step for the first 6 months until assigned to an engine with jump seats, Then no roof. Our SCBA (The Scotts with a silver dollar regulator) were in bags on the side. The Capt had a 15 minute sling pack up front. You had to be quick putting it on or else just give up, go in and keep your face by the nozzle.
Why did they only wear bunker gear at night
Looks like the fire station that was used in the Emergency! pilot episode.
When I was on my honeymoon in Bermuda, I met an FDNY Division Chief at the Club we stayed at. After giving him a book to read at the pool, I jokingly said, "In return I want to ride-a-long down in the City." About a month later, I'm vacuuming the living room, and the phone rings. "Hey Erich it's Chief Bell..." "Chief Bell??" "Yeah, Bermuda, I did as you asked, meet me tomorrow at Division 3's quarters, we'll have lunch, then I'll drive you to Engine 54/Truck 4's house, you'll stay the weekend. YESSS!! I brought the guys a huge cheesecake and a box of Italian cookies. They made a nice pork loin dinner the next night at around 6 o'clock, but since we went out the door what seemed like every 15 minutes, we did'nt eat until 10:30! What a nice weekend it was.
In ALL of these old fire videos (none) of the Fireman are wearing any breathing masks or wearing any oxygen tanks. Just great for their health. Hard to believe today.
Ahhh the days of the “leather lunger’s”🚒🚒🚒🚒🚒
15:21 😂😂😂😂😂
11:52 SAY IT AGAIN!! My oh my have things changed!
9:41 what kind of gruel is that? Try putting that on the table of a firehouse nowadays and there would be hell to pay. 😅😅😅
Looks better than what was placed before me one day. Potato Lasagna. Lasagna noodles, layered with mashed potatoes and a thickened, pasty white sauce. "Cook" was pissed when I added pepper to it.
8:56 truer words were never spoken. 😂😂
1:18 the correct way to slide a pole. Using the crook of your arm at the elbow is how it’s done! None of this two hands holding the brass making a high pitched squeal all the way down.
Thank you for posting this!
What department was this?
LAFD.
5 rig pushout at 10:01, you dont see that...75 yrs old buff,never seen that👍👍
Old LAFD Station 27. When it was first built, it was the largest station west of the Mississippi. It's the LAFD museum now. The current Station 27 which was built next door, is still packed with apparatus.
Boston had a superstation downtown on Oliver st. If I remember correctly they had 2 engines , 2 ladders, rescue company, squirt unit and various chiefs.
Ain’t that crazy! 4 engines and a tiller barreling out of there every time.
Awesome