PATERSON FIRE HISTORY
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  • OVERVIEW
    • EVENTS 1890-1899
    • EVENTS 1900-1919
    • EVENTS 1920-1939
    • EVENTS 1940-1959
    • EVENTS 1960-1979
    • EVENTS 1980-99
    • EVENTS > 2000
  • FIREFIGHTERS
  • CHIEF ENGINEERS
    • ASSISTANT CHIEFS
    • DEPUTY CHIEFS
    • BATTALION CHIEFS
    • CHIEF GIGS
  • THE SUPREME SACRFICE
  • FIRE PHOTOS BY ERA
  • NOTABLE FIRES
  • GREAT 1902 CONFLIGRATION
  • COMPANY LOCATIONS
  • FIREHOUSE PHOTOS / FACTS
  • APPARATUS
  • APPARATUS VIDEOS
  • FIRE SCENE VIDEOS 1
  • FIRE SCENE VIDEOS 2
  • DOCUDRAMAS
  • NOTABLE EVENTS INDEX
    • APPARATUS NOTABLES
    • AWARDS
    • FIREMEN STORIES
    • GROUND ZERO
    • HANCOCKS
    • HISTORICAL REVIEWS
    • HISTORY by CHIEF STAGG
    • MILITARY
    • PARADES
    • PROMOTIONS
    • RED MASS
    • RESCUES
    • SISTER LORETTA
    • SPORTS
    • THEATRE DETAIL
  • STATISTICS
  • MEMORABILIA
  • CITY OF PATERSON
  • DEPARTMENT DOGS
  • TRAINING
  • VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT
    • 1821 - 1854 HISTORY
    • VOLUNTEER HISTORY
    • VOLUNTEER CHIEFS
    • VOLUNTEER PROFILES
    • VOLUNTEER COMPANIES
    • ANNUAL REPORTS
  • COMMUNICATIONS / FA
  • EXEMPT ASSOCIATION
  • EXEMPT HOME & RELICS
  • EMS DIVISION
    • EMS ROSTER
  • FMBA / PFA
  • AUXILIARY FIRE DEPARTMENT
  • ORAL HISTORY
  • PFH CONTRIBUTORS
  • CONTACT

​Evolution of the Paid Department

Major Events from 1920 - 1939
July 4, 1920: The department becomes completely motorized as a new Electric (battery powered) Tractor 75' aerial is put in service at Truck 3 on Godwin Avenue. The last alarm response in Paterson using horses was Station 634 (East 18th Street and 3rd Avenue) for a fire at 755 River Street.
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1921 Ball book: Chaplains in uniform
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Frank MacDonald
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William Carlin




​1922:
Daniel Moore becomes the new Superintendent of Fire Alarm
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1923: A new first size American LaFrance chemical and pumping engine was acquired for the 36 Circle Avenue Firehouse and Engine Company 12 
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September 23, 1926: The Ahrens Fox Era in Paterson begins with the acquisition of a new 1000 GPM pumper with solid rubber tires which is assigned to Engine Company 5 at 115 Van Houten Street, shown below at a fire scene.
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October 15, 1926: New Ahrens Fox 1000 GPM pumper acquired for Engine Company 4 on Slater Street. Also had solid rubber tires as well as a deluge gun on left side of hosebed.
September 1, 1927:  Following in his father's footsteps (Patrick) James P. Sweeney becomes a deputy chief.
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December 1927: Two new Ahrens Fox 1000 GPM pumpers with pneumatic tires acquired and assigned to Engine Companies 1 and 8.
January 2, 1928: Board of Police and Fire Commissioners provided a Captain (William Kane) to supervise the Theater and Places of Amusement Division. Here the order is rescinded. 
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Dayspring Collection
April 27, 1928: Fireman Edward Tribe and Marinus Baker of Engine Company 4 make the Supreme Sacrifice at a department store fire on Main Street. On December 14, 1928 the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners passed an Ordinance that provided for the payment of an annual pension (not to exceed the salary) upon the death of any member of the Paterson Fire Department where such death was due to injuries received in performance of duty. On December 28, 1928 the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners pass resolutions to provide the widows of firemen Tribe and Baker with a pension equal to their annual pay
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Dayspring Collection
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Dayspring Collection

​October 20, 1928: Engine Company 13 is established and put in service at a new two bay firehouse on Twenty Third Avenue. A new Ahrens Fox 1000 GPM pumper is put in service.
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October 20, 1928:  5:30 PM  The first ever 4th alarm signal  was transmitted  from Station 18   (Straight and Governor Streets) at 5:30 PM for the Consolidated Brewery fire. Prior to this, if needed a General Alarm was transmitted after a 3rd alarm. Henceforth a General occurred after a 4th alarm.
June 27, 1929: A new Ahrens Fox 1000 GPM pumper is acquired for Engine Company 6 on Market Street. 
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April 15, 1930: A new 85' Ahrens Fox Aerial enters service as Truck Company 2 at 115 Van Houten Street. The rear of the tractor had solid rubber tires.
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April - November 1930: Four new Ahrens Fox 1000 GPM pumpers acquired and assigned to Engine Companies 2, 1, 7 and 9 (shown left to right below). 
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April 2, 1931: Fireman David Johnstone of Engine Company 8 dies after being struck by a car while carrying a hose at the Manhattan Hotel Fire on March 31, 1931.
July 16, 1931: The last of the Ahrens Fox pumpers is purchased and assigned to Engine Company 10. The last steam fire engine in service is retired.
January 14, 1932: A new 85' Ahrens Fox Aerial is put in service at Truck Company 2 at 115 Van Houten Street (as photographed below). 
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February 10, 1932: Fire surgeon Henry E. Briody, M.D. appointed without pay
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Dayspring Collection
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Dr Briody
March 29, 1932: A new 75' Ahrens Fox Aerial is obtained for Truck Company 3 on Godwin Avenue and is shown below..
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April 26, 1932: New dress code orders
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Dayspring Collection
May 26, 1932: The Board of Police and Fire Commissioners order a 10% reduction in pay for police and firemen due to the poor financial condition of the city (Depression years). As seen below the PFD members had agreed to that in March of 1932.
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Dayspring Collection
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Dayspring Collection
June 1, 1932: Acceptance letters by Chief Thomas Coyle, Battalion Chief Michael Comer, Captain Hobart Strathearn (E9), Captain Edward Cusack (T1)
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Dayspring Collection
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Thomas Coyle
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Michael Comer
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Hobart Strathearn
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Edward Cusack
May 11, 1932: New resolution signed by Mayor Hinchliffe, mandates that all new and current firefighters under age 50 must hold a motor vehicle license.
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Dayspring Collection
November 30, 1932: A rebuilt 1922 500 GPM American LaFrance pumper was given to the Department by the Ahrens Fox Engine Company in appreciation for past business. This apparatus originally belonged to Haledon, NJ Fire department where it was badly damaged in a 1931 accident. It was assigned to Engine Company 11.
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​May 7, 1934: The St. Bonaventure's Lyceum fire fatally injures John P. O'Neill of Engine 9 (died May 8) and Allen Saal of Truck Company 3 (died May 9). Both made the Supreme Sacrifice in a wall collapse.
January 18, 1935: Mayor Hinchliffe statement in the 10thAnnual FMBA Ball Firemen's Booster (during the Great Depression).
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Dayspring Collection
May 12, 1938: At a four alarm fire at the Quackenbush Warehouse on Prospect Street, a wall collapse killed five Paterson Firemen: making the Supreme Sacrifice were Deputy Chief James Sweeney, Captain John Devenport and firemen Louis Rodesky, Matthew O'Neill and William Lynch. All but Sweeney were from Engine Company 5.
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The arrow below points to the upper floors before the collapse
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The wreckage of the fallen wall. Note the Fireman's Helmet with a 5 on the shield on the middle left side of the photo. It belong to Fireman William Lynch. The hose that the men were handling is also seen.
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May 5, 1938: Engine 9's Ahrens Fox pumper is badly damaged in a collision with a bus-trolley in front of its Main Street firehouse. The apparatus had to be shipped back to the Ahrens Fox Company for repair  (Click here for full story).
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July 11, 1938
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  • HOME
  • OVERVIEW
    • EVENTS 1890-1899
    • EVENTS 1900-1919
    • EVENTS 1920-1939
    • EVENTS 1940-1959
    • EVENTS 1960-1979
    • EVENTS 1980-99
    • EVENTS > 2000
  • FIREFIGHTERS
  • CHIEF ENGINEERS
    • ASSISTANT CHIEFS
    • DEPUTY CHIEFS
    • BATTALION CHIEFS
    • CHIEF GIGS
  • THE SUPREME SACRFICE
  • FIRE PHOTOS BY ERA
  • NOTABLE FIRES
  • GREAT 1902 CONFLIGRATION
  • COMPANY LOCATIONS
  • FIREHOUSE PHOTOS / FACTS
  • APPARATUS
  • APPARATUS VIDEOS
  • FIRE SCENE VIDEOS 1
  • FIRE SCENE VIDEOS 2
  • DOCUDRAMAS
  • NOTABLE EVENTS INDEX
    • APPARATUS NOTABLES
    • AWARDS
    • FIREMEN STORIES
    • GROUND ZERO
    • HANCOCKS
    • HISTORICAL REVIEWS
    • HISTORY by CHIEF STAGG
    • MILITARY
    • PARADES
    • PROMOTIONS
    • RED MASS
    • RESCUES
    • SISTER LORETTA
    • SPORTS
    • THEATRE DETAIL
  • STATISTICS
  • MEMORABILIA
  • CITY OF PATERSON
  • DEPARTMENT DOGS
  • TRAINING
  • VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT
    • 1821 - 1854 HISTORY
    • VOLUNTEER HISTORY
    • VOLUNTEER CHIEFS
    • VOLUNTEER PROFILES
    • VOLUNTEER COMPANIES
    • ANNUAL REPORTS
  • COMMUNICATIONS / FA
  • EXEMPT ASSOCIATION
  • EXEMPT HOME & RELICS
  • EMS DIVISION
    • EMS ROSTER
  • FMBA / PFA
  • AUXILIARY FIRE DEPARTMENT
  • ORAL HISTORY
  • PFH CONTRIBUTORS
  • CONTACT
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