Volunteer Firemen's Association of the City of New York

#TBT Throw Back Thursday The Flatlands Volunteer Firemen's Sons Association of Brooklyn

#TBT Throw Back Thursday 1832 Gooseneck Pumper built by James Smith, a well known apparatus builder in NYC, for Lady Washington Engine Company 40 of Manhattan

Thank You to all our service men and women near and far, especially those who laid their lives down for our freedom. A debt that can never be repaid. Many of these heroes once filled the ranks of our Volunteer Fire Depts. as well. We will never forget your sacrifice.

A recap of some of our departments participating in their annual live burn training

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RIP Chief https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3934574186567482&id=317420368282900&sfnsn=mo

#TBT Throw Back Thursday The early days of this organization

Starting February 1st 0700hrs till February 2nd 2359hrs, the GBVFD will be supplementing the New York City 9-1-1 system in anticipation of the forecasted inclem...ent weather. What does that mean? We will have 1 crew sent throughout the city, assisting the FDNY in its mutual aid request while 1 crew remains in the area to cover our direct emergency line. Should you need us, give us a call: (718) 332-3333 See more

#TBT Throw Back Thursday Recently donated to our organization was this early 20th century badge of the Brooklyn Volunteer Firemens Association

#TBT Throw Back Thursday A ceremonial trumpet presented by the Flatland Vol Firemens Assoc. Ladies Auxiliary to John H. Conk, President of the Flatland Volunteer Firemens Association for 17 years of faithful service to the Flatlands section of Brooklyn.

Congratulations to Gerrittsen Beach VFD and their new officers.

#TBT Throw Back Thursday Original qtrs of the Rockaway Point VFD in Queens on Reid Av housing Engine Co. No. 1

#TBT Throw Back Thursday Point Breeze VFD fleet circa late 80s early 90s

Today, Sunday October 4th 2020 at 1500HRS (3PM) today, we will be sounding the horn multiple times for the last time. The horn that is currently installed on th...e roof is well over 60 years old and is coming down as part of the construction on the roof of the firehouse. It saddens us, but due to its age, may not be replaced as it is. Rather it will be replaced with something more beneficial to the community and department. Since the inception of the Gerrittsen Beach community, the fire department has had everything from large bells, multiple sirens or an air horn to notify the community and fire department members of an emergency. We will always have an alarm system for the community and the fire department. We look forward to when our construction is finished and continuing to serve our community.

To Our Loyal Community, Colleagues and Constituents: As many of you know on Saturday October 3rd at approximately 5:30PM while responding to an emergency call.... RPFD was involved in a singular vehicle turnover which resulted in damage to our beloved Truck 4. THANKFULLY Our members who were passengers of the Truck were not seriously injured and came out mostly unscathed with minor cuts and bruises. All members involved are doing very well. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude and thanks to to our Brothers and Sisters of Roxbury Volunteer Fire Department, Point Breeze Fire Department, Gerritsen Beach Fire Volunteers, West Hamilton Beach Fire Dept., New York City Fire Department (FDNY) NYPD and the Breezy Point Cooperative Field Department especially Kevin Harvey for their professionalism and support during one of our most difficult days. To the Community and Public: Your kind words and prayers did not go unnoticed. We are forever and always grateful for your continued support to our Department. -The Officers and Members of Rockaway Point Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Corps.

Our thoughts and support are with our brothers in our very own Rockaway Point Vol. Fire Dept who were involved in a MVA earlier tonight in their response area.

#FBF Flash Back Friday The men of Rosedale Volunteer Chemical Engine Company#1, Queens Photo courtesy Greater Astoria Historical Society

#TBT Throw Back Thursday Gerrittsen Beach VFD in Brooklyn once operated this 1977 Dodge/Darley 4WD 300GPM mini-pumper with a 300 gallon tank as a brush fire and foam unit. Photo courtesy of Michael Martinelli

Many of us have had Chief Strong over the years.

Oceanic still has shirts available for pickup! We have adult S,L,XL and a few 2XL left, sold out of adult medium. We also have youth S,M,L available. Shirts are $15, youth $10, message us to set up a pickup! Thankyou for your continued support

Former VFACNY President Fred Grey and BCVFD members share their experiences on 9/11. RIP Fred Grey. We will take it from here

This patch was created by now Ex-Capt Robert Nussberger. He was the officer in charge of Ambulance 303 on September 11th, 2001, when it left quarters at approx... 0900hrs with Capt Nussberger, FF/EMT Christopher Kalisak as the tech, FF Fred Grey as the Motor Vehicle Operator and FF Ed Wilmarth III as an additional FF. Amb 303 responded as both a Basic Life Support unit and a Rescue unit of sorts. All 4 crew members donned full turnout gear in lieu of standard duty uniforms and the unit was equipped with SCBA's as well as various rescue tools with the intention that if called upon, the crew could access tough areas and get in deeper into the fire or smoke conditions than any other standard EMS unit on scene. With the crews equipment and training, they could prove to be more useful and resourceful in providing care or extricating victims from the fire floors than a regular ambulance crew. However, none of the men would get to put those skills to the test. They arrived on scene at 0918hrs, just a few mins. after the second plane had struck Tower 2. They were directed to the staging area at West St and Liberty underneath the south walk bridge directly across the street from the Marriott Hotel and Tower 2. They would fall in line behind other EMS units on scene underneath the walk bridge as both debris and jumpers were raining down around them. They awaited their turn to be called into the lobby doors by an FDNY chief who was logging in on a clipboard the unit # and capabilities/special services of each EMS crew entering while standing in the lobby doors of the Marriott. The crew finally reached the front of the line less than 100 feet from the lobby doors. It was 0959hrs. The awaiting Chief yelled across the street to them "Who are you!?" The crew replied loudly "Broad Channel!" The chief then screamed back "You're Next!". And not 5 seconds later, Tower 2 collapsed directly on top of them. Everyone on West St initially froze for a split second, as the rumbling was eerily similar to that of a jet engine at first. Many thought it was possibly another plane. In another split second the crew locked eyes again with the awaiting Chief who could not be heard over the roar but whose lips could easily be read. He was screaming "RUN!!!!!" All 4 crew men darted back across West St. The FDNY Chief unfortunately ran back in to the Marriott. The crew never knew his name but assume he did not survive. All four crew members were injured by falling debris and buried under an avalanche of smoke and dust. The ambulance they responded in was battered and rendered immobile. FFs Wilmarth and Kalisak were able to eventually dig themselves out of the debris and converge back at the ambulance. Wilmarth had dove behind the rear of their ambulance. The force of the wind from the debris blew the vehicle sideways down West street as he clung on. He would sustain neck and back injuries from falling debris. Kalisak had been struck hard in the back while running. So hard that many of his bottom teeth were knocked out when he landed and it knocked him clear out of his boots. Wilmarth had gotten dressed in route to the WTC and had his shoes in the ambulance and gave them to his brother. Wilmarth could hear the depts dispatcher desperately trying to call them on the ambulances radio that was mounted on the dashboard buried under dust. "Central to 303. Central to 303, Urgent!". Wilmarth unburied the microphone and kept answering "303 go" until the dispatcher could hear them. But the reception was bad. Wilmarth would tell the dispatcher to use the broken message method to communicate, speaking only one word or short sentence at a time with the dispatcher repeating it back for confirmation. It would be short and to the point. "303". Dispatcher repeats it back immediately. Wilmarth then transmits "Destroyed". The dispatcher took a pause this time before repeating it back, likely in shock at what he was hearing. "Me and Bubba here". Dispatcher repeats it. "Dont see Bob or Freddy". Dispatcher says "10-4" and transmits "By orders of the Chief of Dept, find Freddy and Bob and get the F*ck outta there". To which Wilmarth acknowledges 10-4. That would be their last contact with Broad Channel Central for hours. Both Wilmarth and Kalisak while conducting their search would also rescue a FDNY FF who was trapped underneath a burning ambulance adjacent to theirs and extinguished the fire. As they continued to search for their other crew men, Tower 1 fell. They once again had to run for their lives and while doing so spotted FF Grey being assisted by EMS to rescue boats near the sea wall. He had sustained head and knee injuries. They would confirm with the rescue boats that Capt Nussberger had also been removed. Nussberger was a small man and the oldest crew member. He had been blown down Liberty street by the force of the debris field hitting the ground and shoved underneath a FDNY suburban. His feet remained stuck out and were injured significantly by debris as well as sustaining shoulder and other injuries. All four men would now be taken off Manhattan Island to a make shift triage area in Liberty Park, NJ. Grey and Nussberger were transported to area hospitals. All four men would not be together again until nearly 2 weeks later. This alarm officially retired Capt Nussberger from active duty due to the injuries he sustained. He also developed a form of 9/11 related cancer but is doing well. Kalisak is now retired from active duty as well. Wilmarth has PTSD and breathing issues but would continue up the ranks and go on to be elected Chief of Department in 2014. We lost Fred Grey a number of years ago who also had developed a form of 9/11 cancer as well as PTSD. RIP to the nearly 3000 civilians, our brother Fred Grey, the 343 FDNY brothers, and the EMS, Police, PAPD, Fire Patrol, and NYC VAC members who lost their lives trying to save so many. Never Forget.