New York City Fire Museum

12/09/2022

Today’s Flashback Friday takes us back to 1887 and the invention of the Browder Life Net, a type of rescue equipment formerly used by firefighters. When used in the proper conditions, it allowed people on the upper floors of burning buildings an opportunity to jump to safety, usually to ground level. Firefighters believed that the practical height limit for successful use of life nets was about six stories, although rescues of 8 stories were recorded in Chicago.

On August 19, 1902, the New York City Fire Department conducted its first real-life rescue with the Browder life net. During rescue operations at a tenement fire that killed five people, a baby was dropped from a fourth-floor fire escape into a life net and survived uninjured. On November 10, 1904, three people were saved when they jumped into a life net during a fire in New York City. There were also several instances in New York, such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, where the net was deployed, but due to victims jumping together, the structure failed, and the jumpers perished.

The modern aerial apparatus (a type of aerial work platform) often known as a ladder truck has made the life net obsolete, as this ladder equipment makes it possible for firefighters to carry out rescues more safely, at greater heights and with smaller crews. The net pictured here is on display at the New York City Fire Museum and located in the first-floor gallery.

12/08/2022

• Today’s FDNY photo is from December 8, 1982 – a 2-alarm fire at 1610 Richmond Terrace on Staten Island.

Learn more about FDNY history with the Throwback FDNY Podcast, now available on Apple, Spotify and Google Play. Sign up for the Museum's companion Throwback FDNY newsletter, at nycfiremuseum.org/throwbackfdny

12/06/2022

As 2022 comes to a close, please consider supporting the New York City Fire Museum during our 2022 Annual Appeal, now through January 6, 2023.

The Museum’s mission is to preserve, educate and celebrate, honoring the history and modern-day heroism of the greatest fire department in the world, the FDNY. Now celebrating 35 years at 278 Spring Street, FDNY history comes alive here through two permanent exhibition floors displaying the history of fire service in New York with countless fascinating artifacts that document the history of the volunteer and paid departments, from painted leather buckets to early motorized apparatus.

The Museum is a place of life-saving learning, hosting thousands of children from school and camp groups throughout the year to learn about fire and life safety from members of the FDNY’s Fire Safety Education Unit. We host numerous community and special events, ranging from exhibit openings to the Annual Golf Outing to family-friendly events such as the popular Santa Rescue. We are planning a full calendar of exhibitions and events in 2023 and hope to see you!

The Museum continues to be adversely impacted by the pandemic and needs your support now more than ever to help us continue our important mission.

DONATE TO THE ANNUAL APPEAL:
VIA WEBSITE: nycfiremuseum.org/donate
VIA CHECK: NYC FIRE MUSEUM: ANNUAL APPEAL
278 SPRING STREET
NEW YORK, NY 10013

12/05/2022

Thank you to everyone who came out in support of the Fire Museum to attend our Annual Santa Rescue held on Sunday December 4, 2022.

The weather gave Ladder 1 🚒perfect conditions for ensuring Santa’s safety from the museum rooftop to Spring Street. After a brief intermission to take requests at the Museum, Santa will continue his journey on delivering presents to children across the globe.

Special thanks to Ray Milici for his live performance of carols throughout the event, Bazinga Parties Balloon Artists providing candy cane balloon art and FDNY Fire Safety handing out fire helmets and coloring books.

12/02/2022

Today's 🧯takes us back to World War 2 and highlights one of the most impressive stories in the Museum. Firefighter Mark Wohlfield took leave from Engine 34 to serve his country in the Pacific Theater and found himself stationed in the Philippine Islands. When Japan attacked, the defending Army surrendered and Wohlfield found himself as a Prisoner of War. He suffered through the brutal Bataan Death March before escaping and linked up with native Philippine resistance fighters. Wohlfield fought with the resistance, using this machete, until America retook the Islands, and he was repatriated. Wohlfield returned to FDNY service, bur was forced into early retirement due to several diseases he had been afflicted with during his time in the Philippine jungle.

This machete, made by Robert Mole and Sons in Birmingham, England, along with its scabbard, is on display in the museum's first floor gallery.

12/01/2022

2022 Annual Santa Rescue

🚨LAST CHANCE TO GET TICKETS TO OUR ANNUAL SANTA RESCUE! 🚨

You don't want to miss this fun family event! Ticket sales end tomorrow at 4:30pm for our Annual Santa Rescue scheduled to take place on Sunday, December 4 at 12:00 p.m. sharp.

In the best tradition of the fire service, FDNY Ladder Truck 1🚒 will bravely rescue Santa from his perilous perch on top of the New York City Fire Museum.

Once safely inside, Santa will take gift requests and pose for photos. It is free to watch the rescue outside of Museum, and admission to sit with Santa inside the Museum is $15 for adults and children. Children of all ages are invited to attend! 🎄

Get in the holiday spirit during the Santa Rescue on Sunday, December 4 at 12pm sharp! Watch as an FDNY ladder truck rescues Old Saint Nick

11/29/2022

Help us do our important work to Preserve, Educate and Celebrate. We preserve the history of the greatest fire department in the world. We educate the public, especially children, on fire prevention, safety and survival. And we celebrate the men and women of the FDNY that have served this City for hundreds of years. Visit https://www.nycfiremuseum.org/donate and donate today!

11/28/2022

CYBER MONDAY 🚨 Save 22% Sitewide + Free Shipping Over $150. Enter Code MONYAY22 at checkout.

11/27/2022

Support the New York City Fire Museum and find unique holiday gifts by shopping today, on Museum Store Sunday! Not only will you find quality gifts filled with inspiration and educational value, but your purchases, also directly support our mission.

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11/26/2022

The holidays are all about giving – and the best gift you can give local businesses is your support. Come visit us today for Small Business Saturday® on Nov 26 to kick off the season in a meaningful way.

11/26/2022

For the first time ever! Black Friday sale on event space rental! Save 30-50% off rental fee! Visit www.nycfiremuseum.org & submit an inquiry today!

- No additional hidden fees or taxes.
- Book by 1/6/23, 4:59pm ET.
- Weekday dates between 10a-5p, from 1/3/23-3/31/23, 50% off.
-Weeknight dates between 5pm-11pm, from 1/3/23-3/31/23, 30% off.
- Weekend dates between 1/7/23-3/26/23, 30% off.
- Blackout dates: 12/15/22-1/3/23, 1/14/23, 3/4/23, 3/21/23-3/23/23

Only applicable to new bookings. Maximum 100ppl guest count. Not applicable to Bazinga Birthday Party Packages. Security deposit required for all events.

11/25/2022

Shop all weekend; save all year! Black Friday is here, and we’ve got a deal! Save 22% off all items, enter code FRIYAY22. Deal ends Monday 11/28 at 11:59PM. Valid for online purchases only.

11/25/2022

🚨BLACK FRIDAY & CYBER MONDAY DEALS ARE HERE ALL WEEKEND LONG!🚨
🧯
22% Off all online shop items today thru Monday!
🚒
Enter FRIYAY22 TO SAVE!
🧯

11/23/2022

2022 Annual Santa Rescue

Get in the holiday spirit during our Annual Santa Rescue!

On Sunday, December 4 at 12:00 p.m. sharp, in the best tradition of the fire service, an FDNY ladder truck will bravely rescue Santa from his perilous perch on top of the New York City Fire Museum. Once safely inside, Santa will take gift requests and pose for photos. Enjoy live music and snacks on our 3rd floor. It is free to watch the rescue outside of Museum, and admission to sit with Santa inside the Museum is $15 for adults and children.

Children of all ages are invited to attend ! Purchase your ticket today!

Get in the holiday spirit during the Santa Rescue on Sunday, December 4 at 12pm sharp! Watch as an FDNY ladder truck rescues Old Saint Nick

11/23/2022

Wishing you all a happy and safe holiday with your loved ones. We will re-open on Friday November 25th at 10am.

11/23/2022

The Housewatch - November 2022

New e-newsletter, now available! https://conta.cc/3gt811P

News from the NYC Fire Museum NOVEMBER 2022 V I S I T J O I N D O N A T E Get in the holiday spirit during the Santa Rescue (Rescue will only take place once) On Sunday, De

11/22/2022

educate • Matches and lighters are NOT toys and you should never play with fire. If you see someone playing with fire, be and report it quickly so nobody gets hurt.

11/18/2022

Today we are putting the flash🚨 in Friday! Fire grenades, like those from our collection pictured here, came in all shapes, colors, and sizes, and consisted of a glass sphere filled with carbon tetrachloride, which was intended to be hurled at the base of a fire (early ones used salt-water, but CTC was more effective). Carbon tetrachloride extinguishers were withdrawn in the 1950s because of the chemical's toxicity – exposure to high concentrations damages the nervous system and internal organs. Additionally, when used on a fire, the heat can convert CTC to phosgene gas, formerly used as a chemical weapon. The museum currently has several on display in our second floor gallery. 🧯

11/17/2022

repost 🚨 Today’s FDNY photo is from November 14, 1968 –Testing of new FDNY Mack Pumpers in Brooklyn. See more photos at: bit.ly/3WXjXcq

Learn more about FDNY history with the Throwback FDNY Podcast, now available on Apple, Spotify and Google Play. Sign up for the Museum's companion Throwback FDNY newsletter, at nycfiremuseum.org/throwbackfdny

11/15/2022

On Sunday, December 4 at 12 p.m. sharp, in the best tradition of the fire service, an FDNY ladder truck will bravely rescue Santa from his perilous perch on top of the New York City Fire Museum. Once safely inside, Santa will take gift requests and pose for photos. Admission to sit with Santa inside the Museum is $15 per person. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Children of all ages are invited to attend!

11/12/2022

Twenty-one years ago today, as America was still deeply shaken from the September 11th attack, fears of terrorism were rekindled in the minds of New Yorkers, as American Airlines Flight 587, on route from JFK airport to the Dominican Republic, crashed shortly after takeoff in the Belle Harbor neighborhood on the Rockaway Peninsula of Queens. All 260 people onboard the plane (251 passengers and 9 crew) were killed, along with five people on the ground.

Fears of another terror attack proved to be unfounded, as the NTSB investigation showed that the events leading to the crash began when the aircraft hit wake turbulence from the plane in front of it. In response, First Officer Sten Molin, alternated between moving the rudder from the right to the left and back again in quick succession until the lateral force caused composite lugs that attached the vertical stabilizer to fail. The stabilizer separated from the aircraft and fell into Jamaica Bay, about 1 mile north of the main wreckage site. The aircraft slammed into the ground at Newport Avenue and Beach 131st Street.

The FDNY responded to the first report of a crash at 9:17 A.M. Fire was visible in house on both sides of Beach 131st Street. Minutes later, second and third alarms were requested. There were reports of fires over an area of several blocks, and power lines were down in many streets. A fifth alarm was ordered, bringing to the scene a total of 20 engines, eight trucks, seven battalion chiefs and a deputy chief for the southern half of Queens. Numerous command chiefs also responded.

Because of the heavy smoke and fire conditions, an additional third alarm was transmitted for a separate location a few blocks away, where one of the jet's engines landed. Debris was scattered all over a four-block-wide strip of the neighborhood bordered by Jamaica Bay to the north near JFK airport and the Atlantic Ocean to the south.

A memorial to the victims was dedicated on November 12, 2006, and a ceremony is held every year in remembrance of those lost.

11/11/2022

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you to all who served and continue to serve.

11/10/2022

repost • Today’s FDNY photo is from November 10, 1970 – a 3-alarm fire on Cromwell Avenue in the Bronx.

Learn more about FDNY history with the Throwback FDNY Podcast, now available on Apple, Spotify and Google Play. Sign up for the Museum's companion Throwback FDNY newsletter, at nycfiremuseum.org/throwbackfdny

11/06/2022

- Daylight Saving is a great reminder to check your batteries in smoke/CO alarms. About 59% of fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or non-functional smoke alarms. See more tips to keep you and your family safe at http://fdnysmart.org.

11/04/2022

As we enjoy the last other beautiful temperatures this week, today’s takes us to a far different weather experience. In 1888, New York City experienced one of the most severe blizzards in American History. Known as the Great Blizzard of 1888, or the Great White Hurricane, The East Coast from New Jersey to Maine was pummeled by up to 58 inches of snow.

The storm began just after midnight on March 12th and continued unabated until the afternoon of March 14th. The affected areas were effectively paralyzed, with limited services and technology available to keep streets and transportation open. The number of fatalities was almost 400, and due to the almost complete immobilization of fire stations in the affected area, property damage was estimated at $25 million ($720 Million in current dollars).

The severity of the storm and its paralyzing effect led to the beginning of significant changes in New York City. Telephone and telegraph wires fell under the weight of the snow and ice, as well as the severe wind. Elevated trains ground to a halt while full of passengers. The city leaders wisely decided to begin the change to underground communication wires and increased the speed of the construction of the below ground subway system.

11/04/2022

2022 Annual Santa Rescue

On Sunday, December 4th at 12 p.m. sharp, in the best tradition of the fire service, an FDNY ladder truck will bravely rescue Santa from his perilous perch on top of the New York City Fire Museum. Once safely inside, Santa will take gift requests and pose for photos on 3rd floor of Museum.

Admission to the Museum and to sit with Santa is $15 per person.

Purchase tickets at: https://FireMuseumSantaRescue.eventbrite.com

Get in the holiday spirit during the Santa Rescue on Sunday, December 4 at 12pm sharp! Watch as an FDNY ladder truck rescues Old Saint Nick

11/03/2022

repost• Today’s FDNY photo is from November 4, 1968 – a 2-alarm fire at 2066 Mapes Avenue in the Bronx. See more photos at: bit.ly/3zDgqpJ

Learn more about FDNY history with the Throwback FDNY Podcast, now available on Apple, Spotify and Google Play. Sign up for the Museum's companion Throwback FDNY newsletter, at nycfiremuseum.org/throwbackfdny

10/31/2022

repost• Be , use tea lights or glow sticks in your pumpkins instead of a burning candle fdnysmart.org/halloween/.

10/31/2022

Last chance to purchase tickets for Night at the FDNY Museum on November 3rd 2022 from 6-9pm. Ticket sales end on November 2nd at 5pm.

Showcasing the new special exhibition Firehouse: The Photography of Jill Freedman, this community event will include a private viewing of the exhibition with representatives of The Jill Freedman Family Estate, light fare from local favorite Nonna Beppa, open beer and wine bar, raffle prizes, and entertainment. All proceeds will go toward supporting the Museum's mission to preserve, educate, and celebrate the history of the FDNY.
https://nightatfdnymuseum.eventbrite.com

10/28/2022

Today’s 🧯 takes us back to October 18th, 1896, when a fire destroyed one of New York City’s most unique structures.

The Elephantine Colossus (also known as the Elephant Hotel), was a tourist attraction located in Coney Island, in Brooklyn, New York City. It was built in the shape of an elephant, an example of novelty architecture. The seven-story structure designed by James V. Lafferty stood above Surf Avenue and West 12th Street from 1885 until 1896, when it burnt down in a massive fire. During its lifespan, the 31-room building acted as a concert hall and amusement bazaar. It was the second of three elephant buildings built by Lafferty, preceded by Lucy the Elephant near Atlantic City, New Jersey, and followed by The Light of Asia in Cape May, New Jersey.

The Coney Island Elephant stood 122 feet tall. Its legs were 18 feet in diameter, with the front legs serving as a cigar store, while the back legs held the entrance to the upper structure with a circular staircase. Built two years before the Statue of Liberty, it was aid to ne the first artificial structure visible to immigrants arriving to the United States. Construction required 3,500,000 feet of lumber, 11,00 kegs of nails, 12 tons of iron bolts, and 57,000 square feet of tin to cover its outside.

The conflagration of the Elephantine Colossus was so immense, it was reported that the flames could be seen as far away as Upper Manhattan, Staten Island, and Sandy Hook, New Jersey.

10/27/2022

repost • "Our City, our Department, stands above the rest. And I know New York City is the greatest city in the entire world because I’ve lived in every borough and I’ve worked in every community. This city is the love of my life and I am relentlessly optimistic about its future. The FDNY makes up some of the strongest strands of our city's DNA. It is seared into the psyche of our City, it is one of the most storied and hallowed institutions in New York, and the world. It touches thousands of lives every day without missing a beat. In raging infernos or car crashes or heart attacks or Super Storms or terror attack, the FDNY shows us the very best of humanity in our darkest moments. That’s because the is made of everyday people we all know - a dad, a sister, an uncle, a daughter, people who answered the call to serve and then do extraordinary things. Its strength comes from its people, from the bonds they’ve built. Their bonds to one another. Their bonds and their eternal commitment to our city, and our mission to serve and help others. The people of the FDNY - 17,000 Firefighters, EMTs, Paramedics, Fire Marshals, Fire Inspectors and civilian personnel have provided me with an enduring faith in something that I was raised with and have long known to be true - that where you build a community, you create a force multiplier that does extraordinary things," said Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh at today's swearing in ceremony.

Today, Mayor Eric Adams announced the appointment of Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, to lead the FDNY as the departments 34th Fire Commissioner.

10/27/2022

repost • Today, Eric Adams announced the appointment of Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, to lead the FDNY as the Departments 34th Fire Commissioner.

“Her style of leadership and commitment is just a reflection of what this city has to offer. This is historic, the first woman to lead the largest fire department in the country. For every little girl, for every mother who has just wanted their babies to have the same opportunities as others. Not to have a greater advantage, but not to have a disadvantage. New Yorkers and New York City’s ‘Bravest’ deserve an exceptional leader and Commissioner Kavanagh has the vision, the skills, and the compassion to lead the into the future.”

“This moment, me being first, only matters if I am not the last. Having a woman in this role is a change, but change provides opportunity. Change in fact is the only constant in life and if we embrace it change is a gift. Change is what has made this department and this city continually stronger, it is why we are the best. This is a new look for the New York City Fire Commissioner, but we should remember that our department has changed very much over its 157-year history and it has always emerged better for it. Change is not about losing those core values that bond us and drive us, bravery, sacrifice and service. No, change is about this department and this city getting continually stronger, it is why we are the best and we will always stay the best,” said Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh.

Commissioner Kavanagh has been a key leader in the agency’s response to major incidents, including the Ebola outbreak of 2015 and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as spearheading key policy initiatives for the FDNY. Kavanagh directed the firefighter recruitment campaign that yielded the most diverse applicant pool in the department’s history and has led to more women serving as FDNY Firefighters than ever before. She also created a fire safety program that installed and distributed smoke alarms in the most at-risk neighborhoods and has advocated for first responders at all levels of government.