Results tagged “firehouse”

A former 78-year-old firehouse in Rockaway is getting an environmentally-friendly makeover (greenincarnation?). The Real Deal reports that "the New York City Economic Development Corporation has selected the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance to redevelop the former Rockaway Beach Boulevard Firehouse at 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard in Queens," which will permanently house the Rockaway Institute for Sustainable Environment. The environmental advocacy organization also serves as an educational outlet, and has been working out of local schools and community spaces. They're aiming for LEED certification, and around $2 million is expected to go into the project, which will ultimately be a 7,200-square-foot hall housing green-collar job training courses, classrooms, events, catering facilities, an organic cafe and more. [via Queens Crap]

Almost five years after a firehouse brawl left Staten Island firefighter Robert Walsh "a virtual invalid with almost no short-term memory," a judge has ordered the city to pay out $3.75 million, the Post reports. You may recall that the New Year's Eve fight was triggered by a bet between Walsh and Michael Silvestri, another firefighter, over Elvis Presley's birth date. After besting Walsh, Silvestri started up with the anti-gay slurs, which Walsh insisted was a typical part of life at the firehouse. The exchange culminated with Silvestri bashing Walsh in the head from behind with a metal chair; he suffered eye, jaw and skull fractures, and severe back injuries, thus ending his career at the FDNY. Silvestri's career also ended that night, and he did an eight month bit on Rikers. According to the Staten Island Advance, the settlement is far less than the $100 million sought by Walsh, who needs a cane to walk and suffers from post-traumatic migraine headaches.

The Fire Department announced four fire units across the city will no longer have night tours plus the Governors Island unit will close. The moves are expected to save $8.9 million. The units affected are Engine Companies 4 (Manhattan), 161 (S.I.), 271 (Brooklyn), and 53 (Bronx); the FDNY says those firehouses have two units assigned, "one unit will remain in service 24/7, while the other will remain in service during the day tour (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.), but go off-line during night tour (6 p.m. to 9 a.m.)." While Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta called this a "prudent" decision given the city's dire budget concerns, many are upset. Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr. pointed out Engine Co. 53 serves City Island, “To leave an island community, with only one point of access, without adequate fire protection is a recipe for disaster." And a firefighters' union said, "In this post-9/11 world, the F.D.N.Y.’s expanded responsibilities to protect New Yorkers cannot be accomplished by service reductions."

25 units had to be called in to put a two-alarm fire that ignited inside a Harlem firehouse last night. Eight firefighters suffered minor injuries and the firefighters who usually man Engine 80 Ladder 23 had to be reassigned elsewhere following the blaze that FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief James Manahan said was started by faulty wiring that's over 100-years old. A resident near the W. 139th Street firehouse told NY1, "I'm very worried because this fire station, I'm living here for 37 years, so I know some of the firemen. I'm worried for our neighborhood that we don't have a fire station and we need it." There was no sign that the fire appeared to be suspicious.

Around 10 p.m. last night, a Flushing resident heard crying outside her house and opening her front door to find a baby girl on the steps. The baby, wrapped in a blanket, appeared to be one month old. And next to the infant was a black handbag.

Demonstrating just how valuable free parking in New York City is, a rash of smash and grab thefts has struck areas in Washington Heights and the Bronx, where firefighters have had their car windows broken and parking placards stolen. Most of the thefts have occurred right outside of firehouses, usually when members are called out to a fire, according to the New York Post.