A retired member of Squad 1, and a fire buff since he was raised  by the firemen who shared his block at Engine 18, Kenny Pogan has had a life-long interest in the history of the FDNY.

Send your FDNY related questions for Kenny to info@friendsoffirefighters.org, and check back here often as we update the compilation.

Department Chaplains and Department Doctors are as much a part of the Uniformed Force as Firefighters and Fire Officers.

With the equivalent rank for each as that of a Deputy Chief, the Chaplains and Doctors are represented by the UFOA and are entitled to wear the dress uniform and fire helmets with frontpieces of the Deputy Chief rank but with certain additions. The Chaplains dress cap device is that of the Deputy Chief (3 bugles) but with either the Star of David (Jewish Chaplains) or the white religious cross (Christian Chaplains) laid in the center of the trumpet symbol. The same also goes for the helmet frontpiece. Whereas, the Department Doctors dress cap device is also that of the Deputy Chiefs rank but with the red medical cross (similar to that of the one used by the American Red Cross) laid in the center of the Deputy Chief 3 trumpet symbol.

Engine Companies (Floating) Become Marine Companies

On June 1, 1959, fireboats, which were then known as engine companies, received their own classification as marine companies.  Of the marine companies that are still in the department, the following were their designations:  Engine 57 became Marine Co. 1; Engine 66 became Marine Co. 6, and Engine 51 became Marine Co. 9.  These marine company designations remain as such until this day.

History of Squad 18

Squad 18 was originally a double Engine 18 with two engines until 1939.  An original company of the FDNY in 1865, Engine 18 was one of the last Manhattan companies to respond to Staten Island before the construction of the Verrazano Bridge. Last due on all 4th alarms in S.I., Engine 18 responded via the Staten island ferry. On 10/17/66 Engine 18 lost five members at the 23rd Street fire. In July 1998, Engine 18 became Squad 18.