Orkers in mechanicsfalls Continue to Look Thru the Rubble of Sundayas Mill Fire
FIREMEN SIFT THROUGH RUBBLE FROM FIREHOUSE THAT BURNED
See the article in its original context from
February 3, 1985
,
Section 1 , Page
46Buy Reprints
TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers.
About the Archive
This is a digitized version of an article from The Times's print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them.
Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions.
Eight of the 30 members of Fire Department Rescue Co. 1 shoveled and picked their way last week through a pile of rubble three stories high - what remained of a burned building. They dragged out an assortment of things, from charred timbers to green metal lockers twisted by heat.
''Basically,'' said Lieut. John Cerato, ''we're doing the same as we would be if there were a victim trapped in there.'' He said the men attached to the company had searched fire-gutted buildings for victims and their possessions countless times before.
''The difference,'' said Capt. Brian O'Flaherty, ''is that we're looking for our own stuff this time.''
The building, which had housed Rescue Co. 1 for over 12 years at 530 West 43d Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues, was destroyed by a 10-alarm fire on Jan. 9. The blaze started in an adjoining 8-story warehouse at 524 West 43d Street.
'Home Away From Home'
Besides Fire Department equipment, the firehouse also contained the firefighter's personal lockers. The men working at the site the other day, half of them off-duty, said they hoped to salvage their belongings and what one called their ''home away from home,'' by cleaning out the rubble.
A spokesman for the Fire Department, Arthur Manfredi, said Commissioner Joseph E. Spinnato favored re-establishing the company in the building and was studying to see if that was possible. Only the facade of the firehouse remained.
The firehouse was one of the oldest in the city, dating back to 1894, and the first to be burned so badly that it had to be abandoned since records began to be kept in 1865. Part of the warehouse's roof had collapsed on the firehouse.
''The community is behind this firehouse,'' said Captain O'Flaherty, noting that local support had helped to bring the company to the block. ''We want to start a fund to save the house.''
Sharing A Firehouse
For now, the company is sharing quarters with Engine Co. 34 on West 38th Street. Members of the rescue company said that that had created crowding and that they hoped to have their own firehouse soon.
On 43d Street, the firefighters were working to save what they could of many hours they had spent making the firehouse their own place. They had done extensive masonry work, and put in a new kitchen and tile floors. They maintained the house's ornate, circular staircase.
Lieutenant Cerato said a color televison set that had been installed minutes before the firehouse burned down was destroyed.
One firefighter, Jack Boyle, said that his locker had been found, but that his civilian clothes, boots and ski equipment, all of which he said was worth more than $2,500, were lost. He and some of his fellow firefighters had been preparing for ski races at Hunter Mountain this month.
''It's the sentimental things you had in your locker,'' said Paul Hashagen, whose locker had not been found. ''Hopefully they'll be able to get to it.''
'A Second Family'
Another firefighter, Mike Fitzgerald, said the searchers had found pictures of his wife and year-old daughter. He said, though, that the loss of the firehouse would be felt by each company member as much as the loss of any possessions. He had spent half his time at the firehouse, he recalled.
''We're a really proud bunch,'' he said. ''This really hurt us. It's like a second family here, you're so close to the people you work with.''
Among the things being pulled from the sooty piles were helmets, uniforms, official badges, diamond blades used to cut through concrete, welding equipment and a damp paycheck.
Captain O'Flaherty said the firefighters were putting the salvagable material into containers, which would be taken to Engine Co. 34's firehouse. He said he expected the sifting to be completed this week.
The local community board, No. 4, is scheduled to meet this week. Ned York, the district manager, said a resolution would be read asking the Fire Department to spend whatever money is needed to keep Rescue Co. 1 at the firehouse.
''They serve a necessary purpose as more people move west of Eighth Avenue,'' he said. ''It's just right and logical that they should be there, and it would be just devastating if they left,'' he said.
blaggreaddligning.blogspot.com
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/1985/02/03/nyregion/firemen-sift-through-rubble-from-firehouse-that-burned.html
0 Response to "Orkers in mechanicsfalls Continue to Look Thru the Rubble of Sundayas Mill Fire"
Post a Comment