Volunteer Firemen's Association of the City of New York

10/06/2025

Subscribe at: https://www.youtube.com/?sub_confirmation=1. In this week’s episode of Station Rigs, Mike travels to New York to visit the Broad...

10/06/2025

Jobtown

10/02/2025

Throw Back Thursday

Organized in October 1904 was Rosedale Hook & Ladder Co. 1 in Queens.

Their 1st quarters were on Foster’s Meadow Rd (Foster’s Meadow is the original name of the town of Rosedale) which is now Brookville Blvd. The firehouse was purchased by the Protestant Church on July 4th, 1909 after the H&L moved to new quarters to hold temporary church services until a new church could be built. FDNY Engine 314’s quarters now stands on this lot.

The H&L built new quarters on Rosedale Ave and Prospect Pl (147th Ave) at a cost of $6000 and moved in on July 5th, 1909. This intersection no longer exists.

They disbanded on Sept. 16th, 1927 at 15:30hrs when the FDNY took over the response area.

09/25/2025

Throw Back Thursday

Sept. 23rd, 1903

Douglaston Hose Co. 1 of Queens is organized. Their original quarters were located at 42-30 Douglaston Pkwy. In 1906, they built their second and final quarters at 42-28 235th St. The 235th St. firehouse still stands today and is now American Legion Post 103 who has occupied it since 1948. The original fire bell remains in the cupola on the roof.

In 1903, they were loaned a hose jumper from Young America Hose Co. 2 of the Flushing VFD until the company could purchase its own. Eventually they were supplied an 1898 Sebastion third size hose wagon by the FDNY with an annual budget of $1200 to maintain the hose, equipment and the two horses that pulled it. Later they operated a motorized Republic commercial chassis combination chemical and hose wagon towards the end of their run which was subsequently sold to the nearby Manhasset-Lakeville VFD Co. 4 of Nassau County.

They disbanded on Nov. 30th, 1929 along with Little Neck Active Hook & Ladder Co. 1. They were the last of the Northern Queens volunteer departments to be disbanded . Both companies jointly marched through the streets of their neighboring communities as they were ushered out of service and replaced by the FDNY.

09/18/2025

Throw Back Thursday

September 5th, 1905

Richmond County officially receives paid fire protection from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY).

Prior to this date, all of Richmond County (which became part of NYC in 1898 but would not be named the borough of Staten Island until 1975) was protected by volunteer fire companies.

The FDNY conducted multiple surveys between 1898-1904 to strategically implement paid firehouses throughout the island, knowing such a task could not be accomplished overnight. Newly formed FDNY companies would move into existing volunteer firehouses (in some cases purchase and utilize the volunteers tools, horses and equipment) until a new firehouse could be constructed for them and new equipment issued. But not all areas of Richmond immediately warranted or received a paid fire company. Less populated areas or areas that were geographically unique or isolated would continue to be protected by their existing volunteer fire companies until the areas were either further developed or until funding was appropriated by the city government to construct a paid firehouse there. These volunteer fire companies would enter into contracts with the City of New York to continue to serve their areas, and in doing so would now be funded by the city. Hose companies received $800, Engine companies received $1200, and Hook & Ladder companies received $1500 annually to maintain their horses, firehouses and equipment. Should new or replacement equipment be required, they would now have to solicit the need in writing to the NYC Fire Commissioner.

56 volunteer companies in Richmond were disbanded in one fell swoop, while a handful of others would remain under contract until they were slowly but surely phased out and replaced. These remaining companies were affectionately branded the “VFDNY”, a call back to the original Volunteer Fire Department of New York that protected Manhattan up until 1865.

Only one FDNY company on Staten Island still occupies the original volunteer firehouse that they took over, that being Ladder Co. 79, who inherited their firehouse from Medora Hook & Ladder Co. 3 of the North Shore VFD. All but two of the VFDNY companies were disbanded over the next few decades, the last of which was in 1937. The two remaining Vollies, Richmond Engine Co. 1 and Oceanic Hook & Ladder Co.No.1, continue to proudly serve their respective communities today.

09/18/2025

Congratulations to our own Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department & Ambulance Corp. who just announced they now have all the necessary funding to start building their long overdue new firehouse.

Big news at tonights civic meeting.. Stacey Pheffer Amato presented Dan Mcyntyre with a check for $1,000,000 to be used to close the gap that existed to build the new Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department & Ambulance Corp. Volunteer Firehouse.. Thank you to Assemblywoman Amato and congratulations to Dan and the vollies looks like their new firehouse is really going to happen !!

09/11/2025

Rockaway Point Volunteer Fire Department , Point Breeze Fire Department and Roxbury Volunteer Fire Department are currently operating at this 2 alarm house fire alongside the FDNY.

Queens *2ND ALARM* Box 8300
1 Utica Walk, Breezy Point
HOUSE FIRE

09/11/2025

24 years have passed since the events of September 11th, 2001. Many of NYCs Volunteer Fire Companies and Volunteer Ambulance Corps. operated alongside the FDNY, NYPD, EMS, PAPD and NY Fire Patrol that day in an effort to rescue whomever they could or backfill empty FDNY firehouses. A day of horrific tragedy was also a towering example of what the Brotherhood is all about. May the souls of all who were lost that day and those who we continue to lose from illness rest in eternal peace.

09/09/2025

Ex-Chief Ed Wilmarth of the Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department & Ambulance Corp. and Ex-Chief Doreen Garson of the Gerrittsen Beach Fire Department sat down with CBS2 to speak about their responses to the World Trade Center on 9/11.

09/08/2025

Today we honor the memory of Ex-Chief John F. Pache Jr., of the now disbanded Aviation Hose Co. 3 of the Clason Point section of the Bronx, who died in the line of duty 30 years ago. On September 8th, 1995, Chief Pache was Incident Commander at a private dwelling fire in their response area when he would suffer a fatal heart attack and could not be revived. Continued rest Chief. We have it from here.

09/04/2025

Throw Back Thursday

Narrated by VFACNY historian and Ex-Chief of the Broad Channel VFD, Ed Wilmarth, this video shot a few years ago showcases some of the history of our departments in hopes of recruiting new members. Visit www.VFANYC.org to become part of history.