New York Fire Patrol facts for kids
| "Always Ready" | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1803 / 1839 |
| Employees | 100 |
| Staffing | Career |
| Fire chief | Richard Heffernan |
| Facilities and equipment | |
| Stations | 3 |
| Squads | 3 |
The New York Fire Patrol (FPNY) was a special group that worked in New York City from 1839 until October 15, 2006. They were like a "salvage corps," which means their main job was to protect property from damage during and after fires. They worked for the New York Board of Fire Underwriters, which is an organization that deals with fire insurance.
The Fire Patrol had two main goals: to find fires and to stop valuable items from getting ruined, especially in places that had fire insurance. They mostly went to fires at businesses, but sometimes they also helped at homes where a lot of damage was happening. When they arrived at a fire, they would spread out special canvas covers to protect things, remove water, use elevators, and make sure utilities like electricity were safe. The New York Fire Patrol was part of a labor union called the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).
How the Fire Patrol Helped
The main goal of the Fire Patrol was to reduce damage caused by fires. When a fire happened, they worked to protect buildings and equipment. This helped lower the amount of money insurance companies had to pay for damaged goods. More importantly, they saved businesses' supplies and often helped people keep their jobs and livelihoods.
Over the years, they became very good at stopping water damage by quickly pumping out extra water from fire hoses. They also protected computers and electronics by covering them and moving them to safety as fast as possible. To prevent damage from weather, they would cover broken windows and doors with tarps. The Fire Patrol is also known for saving hundreds of lives from burning buildings across New York City over nearly 200 years.
Towards the end of their history, the Patrol had three main stations. One was in Midtown Manhattan, another in Downtown Manhattan, and a third in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. The Brooklyn station was responsible for Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.
Sadly, 32 patrolmen died while on duty throughout the Fire Patrol's history. This includes Keith M. Roma, Badge 120, who died on September 11, 2001.
Why the Fire Patrol Stopped
Even though many people tried to keep them going, the New York Fire Patrol officially stopped working at 8:00 AM on October 15, 2006. They were the very last insurance-supported salvage corps still operating in the United States.
In 2010, it was reported that TV news anchor Anderson Cooper bought the old Fire Patrol 2 station in Greenwich Village for $4.3 million. He planned to turn it into his home.
Fire Patrol Stations and Vehicles
Here are the locations of the New York Fire Patrol stations when the organization closed in 2006:
- Patrol 1 – Located at 240 West 30th Street in Midtown, Manhattan
- This station housed Fire Patrol 1.
- Patrol 2 – Located at 84 West 3rd Street in Greenwich Village, Manhattan
- This station housed Fire Patrol 2.
- Patrol 3 – Located at 12 Dean Street in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn
- This station housed Fire Patrol 3.
- It also had a Patrol Support Unit.
- And two Reserve Patrol Units.
