Volunteer Firemen's Association of the City of New York

02/20/2025

Throw Back Thursday

Our next series of Throwbacks will focus on former FDNY apparatus that had a 2nd life in one of the NYC Volunteer Fire Companies and where they are today.

Today’s apparatus is this 1981 American LaFrance 1000gpm 2 stage pumper with a 500 gallon tank. The rig was purchased new by the FDNY carrying a shop number of AP8032 and was assigned to Engine 263 “Astoria Roadrunners” at 42-08 Astoria Blvd S. in Queens. Purchased by West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire Dept in Queens from public auction around 1995, it would enter service there as Engine 2, Unit 946. It was one of three Ex-FDNY American LaFrances that the department operated during that time period. It would later be sold to Aviation Hose Co. # 3 of the Bronx in the mid 2000s who sent it out to be refurbished in Detroit, MI. but disbanded while in the process. It eventually was sold again at public auction and purchased by the Detroit Fire Academy who used it as a training vehicle up until 2014. Its current whereabouts are unknown.

02/13/2025

Throw Back Thursday

Our next series of Throwbacks will focus on former FDNY apparatus that had a 2nd life in one of the NYC Volunteer Fire Companies and where they are today.

Today’s apparatus is this 1997 Seagrave 1000gpm 2 stage pumper with a 500 gallon tank. The rig was purchased new by the FDNY carrying a shop number of SP9718 and was originally assigned to Engine 40 “The Cavemen” at 131 Amsterdam Ave in Manhattan. After being decommissioned it would then be purchased and refurbished by Oceanic H&L Co. 1 of Staten Island where it still serves today.

02/09/2025

02/08/2025

02/08/2025

02/07/2025

Outstanding work today by our own Gerrittsen Beach Fire Department

02/06/2025

Throw Back Thursday

Our next series of Throwbacks will focus on former FDNY apparatus that had a 2nd life in one of the NYC Volunteer Fire Companies and where they are today.

Today’s apparatus is this 1933 Chevrolet kit bashed hose wagon. The rear bed was originally a 1912 FDNY hose cart body from an unknown company. It was supplied to Oceanic Hook & Ladder Co. #1 of Staten Island by the FDNY and mounted onto a new 1933 Chevrolet chassis. Oceanic was originally a truck company and this was their first apparatus when they transitioned to an engine company. They would operate this rig all the way up until the 1960s. Its current whereabouts are unknown.

02/03/2025

One of our own needs our assistance. Any little bit helps.

All units stand by for a message… Today, the members of the FDNY’s Bro… Frank Festa needs your support for FDNY’s Brooklyn Dispatcher 290 needs your help!

01/31/2025

Our own Edgewater Park Volunteer Hose Company No. 1 Inc. new rig nearing completion

01/30/2025

Our own VFA historian Ex-Chief Ed Wilmarth of Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department & Ambulance Corp. sat down with Gary Urbanowicz on the Throwback FDNY Podcast hosted by the New York City Fire Museum to discuss some of the history of New York City’s Volunteer Fire Companies.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3faCz0fsGrnTOoiaCdOm6Y?si=4TNHBsi3SDCKYLC1K3dzpw

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/throwback-fdny/id1520432865

01/30/2025

Throw Back Thursday

Our next series of Throwbacks will focus on former FDNY apparatus that had a 2nd life in one of the NYC Volunteer Fire Companies and where they are today.

Today’s apparatus is this 1998 Seagrave 1000gpm 2 stage squad-style pumper with a 500 gallon tank. The rig was purchased new by the FDNY carrying a shop number of SP9836 and was originally assigned to Squad 41 “The Best of Both Worlds” at 330 East 150th St in the Bronx. Later it would serve as Squad 61 also of the Bronx, eventually winding up in the spare apparatus pool until being decommissioned. It would then be purchased and refurbished by West Hamilton Beach VFD of Howard Beach, Queens and would enter service there in 2016 as Squad 944. It is now in the hands of a private collector in upstate NY.

01/26/2025

RIP Captain Stokes

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ex-Captain, Robert “Bobby” Stokes. We ask that you keep the Stokes family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

01/23/2025

Throw Back Thursday

Our next series of Throwbacks will focus on former FDNY apparatus that had a 2nd life in one of the NYC Volunteer Fire Companies and where they are today.

Today’s apparatus is this 1986 Mack CF 1000gpm 2 stage pumper with a 500 gallon tank. The rig was purchased new by the FDNY carrying a shop number of MP8610 and was assigned to Engine 216 “The Pride of Williamsburg” at 187 Union Ave in Brooklyn. Purchased by Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Dept in Queens, NYC from public auction in 2001, it was in the beginning stages of being refurbished to enter service when the 9/11 attacks occurred. Broad Channel’s primary rig immediately began backfilling empty FDNY firehouses while the Mack was quickly equipped and pressed into service, designated Engine 205,
to assist in covering Broad Channels area for the next few days. Broad Channel would offer the rig back to the FDNY at no cost due to the loss of so many rigs at Ground Zero but the FDNY respectfully declined. In 2002 Broad Channels leaders decided it was more financially beneficial to begin to replace all the aging former FDNY apparatus they owned rather then keep investing in them and the Mack refurbishment was never completed. It was eventually sold to a private collector where it sat for a number of years. In 2015 it was purchased by a second private collector who did start the refurbishment process and returned it back to FDNY Engine 216’s paint and lettering scheme where it remains today in upstate NY.

01/18/2025

Happy Birthday to the founding father of the volunteer fire service, Dr. Benjamin Franklin. Dr. Franklin was born on January 17th, 1706 and is credited with organizing the very first volunteer fire company in our nation, the Union Fire Company of Philadelphia on December 7th, 1736.

01/16/2025

Throw Back Thursday

Our next series of Throwbacks will focus on former FDNY apparatus that had a 2nd life in one of the NYC Volunteer Fire Companies and where they are today.

Today’s apparatus is this 1981 American LaFrance 1000gpm 2 stage pumper with a 500 gallon tank. The rig was purchased new by the FDNY carrying a shop number of AP8055 and was assigned to Engine 211 “Victory” at 26 Hooper St in Brooklyn. Purchased by West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire Dept in Queens, NYC from public auction in 1994, it would enter service there briefly as Engine 944 from 1994 to around 1998. It was one of three Ex-FDNY American LaFrances that the department operated during that time period. Its current whereabouts are unknown.

01/14/2025

Continued Rest Lieutenant Gillen

01/09/2025

Throw Back Thursday

Our next series of Throwbacks will focus on former FDNY apparatus that had a 2nd life in one of the NYC Volunteer Fire Companies and where they are today.

Today’s apparatus is this 1981 American LaFrance 1000gpm 2 stage pumper with a 500 gallon tank. The rig was purchased new by the FDNY carrying a shop number of AP8040 and was assigned to Engine 220 “The Pride of Park Slope” at 530 11th St in Brooklyn. Purchased by Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Dept in Queens, NYC from public auction in 1994, it would enter service there as Engine 201 from 1994 to 2006. Most notably while in service in Broad Channel, it was first due to many multiple alarm fires over its career there. It also covered FDNY Engine 331’s quarters on September 11th and FDNY Engine 276’s quarters on September 12th in 2001 following the attacks on the World Trade Center. Additionally, it also responded and operated at the Crash of American Airlines Flight 587 in the Belle Harbor section of Rockaway Beach, Queens on Nov. 12th, 2001. In 2006 it was sold to a private collector where it was eventually restored back to FDNY Engine 220’s paint and lettering scheme. In 2020 it was once again sold to another private collector where it remains today in upstate NY.