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The Historic Boats
>--------------------HISTORIC
PAGE 1-------------------<
A brief overview and introduction to the
Historical Collection of FDNY Fire Boats.
>--------------------HISTORIC
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SENECA
(NYPD c. 1862-1881)
A side paddlewheel vessel obtained by the New York Police Department
was on very rare occasions reportedly used by the Brooklyn Fire Dept.
She was reportedly destroyed by fire in 1881.
JOHN FULLER
(On Call c. 1866-1875)
Perhaps the "first" firefighting boat in NYC.
A steam salvage tug equipped with Amoskeag fire pumps
Owned by John C. Baxter & Son
Rented as needed "On Call" basis.
Known as a "wrecking & fire steamer"
13 water streams
It served for 9 years 1866-1875
and then for years was rented to substitute for
fireboats Havemeyer and Mills when they were out of service.
Berthed at 307 West Street, Manhattan
PROTECTOR
(On Call c. 1894-?)
A 53 foot tug operated by the Newtown Creek Towing Co.
in Long Island City (now part of Queens) on the East River
was from time to time used for firefighting
WILLIAM F. HAVEMEYER
(1875-1901)
106' x 22' x 10'. 6000 gpm.
Built by
Wood Dialogue & Company, Philadelphia
Wood hull vessel - coal fired steam powered
Berthed at foot of Pike Street, East River
"Engine 43"
ZOPHAR MILLS
(1882-1934)
120' x 25' x 12'. 6000 gpm.
First iron hull fireboat
Berthed at Pier 42, North River
Served 52 years.
"Engine 51"
"Engine 77"
Engine 51"
SETH LOW
(1885-1917)
99' x 24' x 9'. 3500 gpm.
Wooden vessel
Harbeck's Stores, then foot of Main Street
Brooklyn Fire Dept
"Engine 23"
F.D.N.Y. (Jan 1898)
"Engine 123"
"Engine 223"
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THE NEW YORKER
(1890-1931)
125' x 26' x 12'. 13,000 gpm.
Steel hull
Battery Park, North River, Manhattan
"Engine 57"
"Engine 77"
---------------------
Note
The newest, most innovative fireboats often
started out at "Engine 57"
with the previous boat being reassigned
to another boat site.
---------------------
DAVID A. BOODY
(1892-1914)
105' x 23' x 7'. 6500 gpm.
Wooden vessel
Brooklyn Fire Dept
"Engine 32"
F.D.N.Y. (Jan 1898)
"Engine 132"
Engine 232"
ROBERT A. VAN WYCK
(1898-1948)
100' x 24' x 12.6'. 6500 gpm
Only briefly named Van Wyck
Served as William L Strong
"Engine 66"
WILLIAM L. STRONG
(1898-1948)
100' x 24' x 12.6'. 6500 gpm
- Briefly Also Named the -
Robert A Van Wyck
"Engine 66"
"Engine 51"
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ABRAM S. HEWITT
(1903-1958)
117' x 25' x 10'6". 7000 gpm.
At foot of 13th Street
"Engine 77"
"Engine 232"
"Engine 77"
GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN
(1904-1954)
117' x 24' x 9'6". 7000 gpm.
"Engine 78"
"Engine 66"
"Engine 51"
VELOX
(1907-1922)
68' x 11'6" x 7'.
Tender
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JAMES DUANE
(1908-1959)
132' x 28' x 10'. 9000 gpm.
"Engine 85"
"Marine 3"
THOMAS WILLETT
(1908-1959)
132' x 28' x 10'. 9000 gpm.
"Engine 86"
"Engine 78"
"Marine 9"
CORNELIUS W. LAWRENCE
(1908-1955)
104'6" x 23'6" x 9'. 7000 gpm.
"Engine 87"
"Engine 51"
Engine 66"
THE
NEW YORK FLEET
(1908)
"Zophar Mills" 1882 - Engine 51
"David Boody" 1892 - Engine 132
"Seth Low" 1885 - Engine 123
"The New Yorker" 1890 - Engine 57
"William L. Strong" 1898 - Engine 66
"Abram S. Hewitt" 1903 - Engine 77
"George B. McClellan" 1904 - Engine 78
"James Duane" 1908 - Engine 85
"Thomas Willett" 1908 - Engine 86
"Cornelious W. Lawrence" 1908 - Engine 87
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WILLIAM J. GAYNOR
(1914-1961)
118' x 25' x 13.4'. 7000 gpm.
"Engine 223"
"Engine 51"
"Engine 77"
"Marine 7"
JOHN PURROY MITCHEL
(1921-1966)
132' x 27' x 10'. 9000 gpm.
Built at Standard Shipbuilding Co, Shooters Island, NY
Last steam fireboat, first oil burner
"Engine 57"
"Engine 232"
"Marine 6"
"Marine 3"
CAPT. CONNELL
(1922-1938)
56'6" x 12' x 6'6".
Tender
JOHN J. HARVEY
(1931-1999)
130' x 28' x 9'. 18,000 gpm.
First gasoline-electric powered boat
"Engine 57"
"Engine 66"
"Marine 2"
FIRE FIGHTER
(1938-2011 )
134' x 32' x 9'. 20,000 gpm.
First Diesel - electric fireboat
"Engine 57"
"Engine 223"
"Marine 8"
"Marine 5"
Marine 3"
"Marine 9"
SMOKE
(1938-1955)
53' x 7' x 3.5'.
Tender
>--------------------HISTORIC
PAGE 7-------------------<
JOHN D. MC KEAN
(1954-2011 )
129' x 30' x 9'. 19,000 gpm.
"Engine 57"
"Marine 1"
H. SYLVIA A. H. G. WILKS
(1958-1972)
105'6" x 27' x 9'. 8000 gpm.
"Engine 51"
"Marine 9"
"Marine 7"
>--------------------HISTORIC
PAGE 8-------------------<
HARRY M. ARCHER M. D.
(1958-1994)
105'6" x 27' x 9'. 8000 gpm.
"Engine 78"
"Marine 6"
SMOKE II
(1958-2008 )
52' x 14' x 4'. 2000 gpm.
"Tender"
SENATOR ROBERT F. WAGNER
(1959-1993)
105'6" x 27' x 9'. 8000 gpm.
"Marine 8"
"Marine 7"
"Marine 5"
GOVERNOR ALFRED E. SMITH
(1961-2015)
105'6" x 27' x 9'. 8000 gpm.
"Marine 8"
"Marine 6"
BLAZE
(1961-1970)
20'x 8' - 600 gpm
"With Marine 8"
JOHN H. GLENN, JR.
(1962-1977)
70' x 21' x 5'. 5000 gpm.
"Marine 4"
"Marine 5"
(now Washington, DC Fire Boat 1)
FLAME
(1963-1974)
18' x 8' 680 gpm
"Special Unit"
JAMES F. HACKETT
(1970-1974)
29'3" x 8' x 2'.5" - 2500 gpm
"Special Unit"
JOHN P. DEVANEY
(1992-1994)
70' x 19' x 5'4" 7075 gpm.
"Marine 6"
ALFRED E. RONALDSON
(1992-1994)
70' x 19' x 5'4" 7075 gpm.
"Marine 9"
KEVIN C. KANE
(1992-2010 )
52' x 16' x 4'6". 6500 gpm.
"Marine 6"
---------------------------------
The Modern Marine Division
THE BIG BOATS
"THREE FORTY THREE"
"Marine 1"
(2010- )
140' x 36' x 9' draft
50,000 gpm
Built by Eastern Shipbuilding,
Panama City, Florida
Marine 1 - Bloomfield Street, Manhattan
Replaced the "John D. McKean" built in 1954
"FIREFIGHTER II"
"Marine 9"
(2010- )
140' x 36' x 9' draft
50,000 gpm
Built by Eastern Shipbuilding,
Panama City, Florida
Marine 9 - Front Street, Staten Island
Replaced the "Firefighter" built in 1938
"BRAVEST"
"Marine 6"
(2011- )
65' x 17' x 39"
7,000 gpm
Safe Boat
Marine 6 - Brooklyn Navy Yard
Replaced "Kevin Kane" built in 1992
"WILLIAM M
FEEHAN"
"Marine 6"
(2015- )
66' 5" x 18' x 3'
6,800 gpm
MetalCraft FireStorm 70
Marine 6 - Brooklyn Navy Yard
Second boat for Marine 6
SMALL BOATS
MARINE 1 - ALPHA
(2012- )
33' Safe Boat
1,000 gpm
With Marine 1 at Bloomfield St
Replaced 2006 27' Safe Boat
MARINE 1 - BRAVO
(2012- )
31' Safe Boat
EMS Response
With Marine 1 at Bloomfield St
MARINE 6 - ALPHA
(2012- )
33' Safe Boat
1,000 gpm
With
Marine 6 - Brooklyn Navy Yard
MARINE 6 - BRAVO
(2012- )
31' Safe Boat
EMS Response
With
Marine 6 - Brooklyn Navy Yard
MARINE 9 - ALPHA
(2012- )
33' Safe Boat
1,000 gpm
With
Marine 9 - Front Street, Staten Island
MARINE 9 - BRAVO
(2012- )
31' Safe Boat
EMS Response
With
Marine 9 - Front Street, Staten Island
Additional small boats similar to the Alpha Boats
are also assigned to the the Marine Division,
Dive Team, and 3 Special Event boats
each located with respective Marine Co.s.
SEASONAL UNITS (May to Oct)
MARINE 3
(2012- )
33' Safe Boat
1,000 gpm
Marine 3 - Kingsborough Community College,
Brooklyn
MARINE 4
(2012- )
33' Safe Boat
1,000 gpm
Marine 4 - Fort Totten,
Queens
MARINE 8
(2012- )
33' Safe Boat
1,000 gpm
Marine 8 - Great Kills Harbor,
Staten Island
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FDNY MARINE DIVISION HISTORY
Fire Boats and Company Locations over time
(Note: Consolidation of New York City and combined
Fire Department occurred in 1898)
When first organized FDNY Fireboats were designated
as Engine Companies.
As boats were relocated they maintained their Engine Co. assignment.
The 19th Battalion was established in 1905 including all the fireboats.
The fleet reached 10 boats from 1908 into the 1950's.
Changes have occurred over time as economics and changes in the
waterfront resulted in a reduction in the number of boats.
The "Marine Division" and designations of
"Marine Company" was created 1959.
Engine 43
Organized 1875
East River - 1875
Pier 40, Pike Street, Manhattan, East River - 1877
Pier 1, Manhattan, North River - 1879
Foot of Clinton St, Manhattan, East River - 1883
Pier 55, Grand St, Manhattan, East River - 1893
Foot of East 96th St, Manhattan, Harlem River - 1898
Marine E43 Disbanded 1903
"William F. Havemeyer" 1875-1901
Engine 51
Organized 1883
Pier 42, Manhattan, East River - 1883
Foot West 13th St, Manhattan, North River- 1884
Foot of Bloomfield St, Manhattan, North River - 1892
Foot West 13th St, Manhattan, North River- 1900
Foot of East 99th St., Manhattan, Harlem River - 1903
St George, Staten Island - 1908
Disbanded 1916 - 1922
Foot of Hyatt St, Staten Island - 1922
Disbanded 1934 - 1938
Foot of Hyatt St, Staten island - 1938
Pier 6, Foot of Hannah St, Staten Island - 1947
Disbanded 1948 - 1949
Pier 6, Hannah St, Staten Island - 1949 - 1959
Reorganized as Marine 9 - 1959
"Zophar Mills" 1883-1934
"William L Strong" 1938-1948
Replaced by "George B McCllellan" 1949-1953
"Cornelius W. Lawrence" 1953-1954
Replaced by "Fire Fighter" 1954-1959
Engine 23 - (Brooklyn FD)
Organized 1886
Foot of Furman St, Brooklyn, East River - 1886
Relocated foot of Main St, Brooklyn, East River - 1899
Became Engine 123 - 1899
Relocated foot of 42nd St, New York Bay - 1904
Relocated Foot of Main St, Brooklyn, East River - 1904
Became Engine 223 - 1913
Relocated Foot of 38th St, New York Bay - 1915
Relocated Foot of 37th St, New York Bay - 1932
Reorganized as Marine 8 - 1959
"Seth Low" - 1886-1916
Replaced by "William J Gaynor" 1916-
Engine 32 - (Brooklyn FD)
Organized 1893
Foot of North 8th St, Brooklyn, East River - 1893
Became Engine 132 - 1899
Became Engine 232 - 1913
Disbanded - 1914
Reorganized Foot of North 8th St, Brooklyn, East River - 1915
Relocated Foot of Noble St, Brooklyn, East River - 1922
Reorganized as Marine 6 - 1959
"David A. Boody" - 1893-1914
Engine 57
Organized 1891
Castle Garden, Manhattan - 1891
Battery Park, Manhattan - 1895
Pier 1, Manhattan, North River - 1941
Disbanded 1959
Reorganized as Marine 1 - 1959
"New Yorker" - 1891-1922
Replaced by "John Purroy Mitchel" 1922-1931
Replaced by "John J. Harvey" - 1931-1938
Replaced by the "Fire Fighter" 1938-1955
Replaced by "John D. McKean" 1955-1959
Engine 66
Organized 1898
Foot of Grand Street, Manhattan, East River - 1898
Foot of Grand St, Corlears Hook, Manhattan, East River - 1932
Disbanded 1955
"Robert A Van Wyck" 1898-
Renamed "William L. Strong" 1898-1938
Replaced by "George B McClellan" 1938-1953
Engine 77
Organized 1903
Foot of Gansevoort St, Manhattan, North River - 1903
Relocated to Foot of Main St, Brooklyn, East River - 1904
Relocated to Foot of Beekman St, Manhattan, East River - 1911
Relocated Seaside Landing, Far Rockaway, Queens - 1922
Relocated foot of Hyatt St, Staten Island - 1922
Relocated Foot of Beekman St, Manhattan, East River - 1922
Relocated Foot of Fulton St, Manhattan, East River - 1931
Reorganized to Marine 7 - 1959
""Abram S. Hewitt" 1903-
Replaced by "The New Yorker" 1922-1931
Engine 78
Organized 1904
Foot of Gansevoort St, Manhattan, North River - 1904
Relocated Foot of East 99th St, Manhattan, Harlem River - 1908
Relocated Foot of 90th St, Manhattan, Harlem River - 1930
Reorganized as Marine 5 - 1959
"George B McClellan" 1904-1938
Replaced by "Thomas Willett" 1938-1959
Engine 85
Organized 1908
Pier 75, West 35th St, Manhattan, North River - 1908
Reorganized as Marine 3 - 1959
"James Duane" 1908-1959
Engine 86
Organized 1908
Foot of Gansevoort St, Manhattan, North River - 1908
Relocated Pier 53, Ft of Bloomfield St, Manhattan, North Rover - 1910
Reorganized as Marine 2 - 1959
"Thomas Willett" 1908-1938
Replaced by "John J Harvey" 1938-
Engine 87
Organized 1908
Foot of East 132nd St, Manhattan, Harlem River - 1908
Relocated Ft of East 135th St, Manhattan, Harlem River - 1922
Relocated foot of Grand St, Manhattan, East River - 1952
Disbanded 1954
"Cornelius W. Lawrence" 1908-1953
Engine 223
Organized 1886 as Brooklyn Engine 23
Foot of Furman St, Brooklyn, East River - 1886
Relocated foot of Main St, Brooklyn, East River - 1899
Became Engine 123 - 1899
Relocated foot of 42nd St, New York Bay - 1904
Relocated Foot of Main St, Brooklyn, East River - 1904
Became Engine 223 - 1913
Relocated Foot of 38th St, New York Bay - 1915
Relocated Foot of 37th St, New York Bay - 1932
Reorganized as Marine 8 - 1959
"Seth Low" - 1886-1916
Replaced by "William J Gaynor" 1916-
Engine 232
Organized 1893 as Brooklyn Engine 32
Foot of North 8th St, Brooklyn, East River - 1893
Became Engine 132 - 1899
Became Engine 232 - 1913
Disbanded - 1914
Reorganized Foot of North 8th St, Brooklyn, East River - 1915
Relocated Foot of Noble St, Brooklyn, East River - 1922
Reorganized as Marine 6 - 1959
"David A. Boody" - 1893-
"John Purroy Mitchel" - 1931-
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The "Marine Division" as it is known today was reorganized in 1959.
No longer would fireboats be referred to as Engine Companies.
Marine Co. 1
Organized 1959
Formerly Engine 57
Pier 1, Manhattan, North River 1959-
Pier A, Manhattan, Battery Park, Manhattan, North River 1960-1992
Relocated to Foot of Bloomfield St, Manhattan, North River 1992
"John D. McKean" 1959-2010
"Three Forty Three" 2010-
Marine Co. 2
Organized 1959
Formerly Engine 86
Foot of Bloomfield St, Manhattan, North River 1959-1991
Disbanded 1991
"John J Harvey" 1959-1995
Marine Co. 3
Organized 1959
Formerly Engine 85
Foot of West 35th St, Manhattan, North River 1959-
Foot of Bloomfield St, Manhattan, North River 1961-
Disbanded 1966
Reorganized 1996
158-57 Cross Bay Blvd, Queens (Seasonal May-Oct) 1996-2004
Relocated Gateway Marina, Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn (Seasonal) 2004-
Marine Co. 4
Organized 1962
Foot of 154th Pl, East River 1962-
Relocated Army Pier, Fort Totten, Queens 1963-
Disbanded 1971
Reorganized 1996
Fort Schuyler @ NYSMMA, Throgs Neck (Seasonal) 1996-1998
Relocated to Fort Totten, Queens 1998-
"John H Glenn Jr" 1962-1971
Marine Co. 5
Organized 1959
Formerly Engine 78
Foot of East 90th St, Manhattan, East River 1959-1976
Disbanded 1976
Marine Co. 6
Organized 1959
Formerly Engine 66
Foot of Grand St, Manhattan, East River 1959-1992
Relocated to Bldg 292, Brooklyn Navy Yard, East River 1992-
(Marine Division HQ)
"Governor Alfred E. Smith" 1961-1992
"Kevin C Kane" 1992-2011
"Bravest" 2011-
Marine Co. 7
Organized 1959
Formerly Engine 77
Foot of Fulton St, Brooklyn, East River 1959-1970
Disbanded 1970
"H. Sylvia A.H.G. Wilks" 1959-1970
Marine Co. 8
Organized 1959
Formerly Engine 223
Foot of 38th St, Brooklyn, New York Bay 1959-1962
Foot of 52nd St, Brooklyn 1962-1970
Disbanded 1970
Reorganized Great Kills Harbor, Staten Island (Seasonal) 2005-
Marine Co. 9
Organized 1959
Formerly Engine 51
Pier 6, Staten Island 1959-
Relocated Slip 8, St George Ferry Terminal, SI 1967-
Relocated foot of 52nd St, Brooklyn, New York Bay 1976-
Relocated Slip 8, St George Ferry Terminal, SI 1977-
Relocated 355 Front St, Staten Island 1997-
"Fire Fighter" 1959-2010
"Fire Fighter II" 2010-
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Photos by Britton W Crosby
FIREBOATS
FROM
