​HELMETS, CAPS & SHIELDS
​Paid Department

CHIEF HELMETS

Chief Alejandro Alicea  2023 - 

Chief Brian McDermott  2018 - 2023

Vince Marchese Photo

Vince Marchese Photo

Vince Marchese Photo

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Chief Michael Postorino  2004 - 2017

2016 Chief Michael Postorino ---- Vince Marchese photo

Chief William Comer  1985 - 1990

The following are Chief Comer's Uniform cap, Deputy Chief helmet, a presentation helmet to the Chief from helmet makers Cairn's and Brothers and a helmet the Chief used in his personal firematic collection

Eifler Collection

Al Credidio photo

Presentation from Cairns to the Chief

Chief James Pasquariello  1997 - 2004

The following five helmets span the (37 year) career of one of Paterson's Chief Engineers, specifically Chief James Pasquariello. He served as a fireman on Truck 3 from 1968 to 1980. as a Captain of Truck 3 from 1980 to 1988, as a Battalion Chief from 1998 to 1994, as a Deputy Chief from 1994 to 1997 and as Chief from 1997 until retirement.

Chief John Mauro  1990 - 1996

Mauro Helmet Shield Collection

Courtesy of Chief John Mauro

Assistant Chief Helmet - Joseph Dayspring

The Cairns and Brothers, 8 comb helmet shown below belonged to Assistant Chief Joseph Dayspring, who served from 1942 to 1981 He held the rank of Assistant Chief Engineer from 1962 to 1981.  The chief also used this helmet as a Battalion and Deputy Chief

Dayspring Collection

The eye shields were made mandatory in the late 1970s after an incident involving then 3 Truck fireman Bill Shortway. He lost the sight in his left eye after being hit with falling debris from a ceiling he was pulling during overhaul operations after a fire. He later advanced to the rank of deputy chief.

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Finial typical of that era firemen

Cairns insignia inside helmet

1981 Retirement Photo: last day on job wearing the helmet

Assistant Chief Helmet - Gerard Dugan

Note th3e uniform cap badge on top is that of a Deputy Chief. The breast badge and lapel pins are the rank of Assistant Chief

AC Dugan at the 1980 Brogan Cadillac fire

Assistant Chief Gerard Dugan's Helmet

Deputy Chief Uniform Cap

This cap belonged to Deputy Chief Joseph Dayspring: 1957-1962

Dayspring Collection

Deputy Chief Cap   - Transitioned to white in the 1980s

June 1, 2019 - DC Donn Langevin

Deputy and Assistant Chief Helmets - Eugene Mariani

Courtesy of Eugene's granddaughter

​Deputy Chief Shield - William Shortway

Vincent Marchese photo

Third stripe not yet applied to uniform coat

Stokers Cap

Dayspring Collection

Dayspring Collection

Firefighter's Cap

2019

Deputy Chief Helmets

~1890 Deputy Chief Helmet Shield - likely that of the first Deputy Chiefs: Patrick Sweeny or Ernest Fields

Deputy Chief Joseph Dougherty - Courtesy of Jan Davies

2016 photo Deputy Chief Kevin Hancock ---- Vincent Marchese photo

Deputy Chief Solomon Reines (courtesy of Richard Reines)

Chief Reines at Cliffside Dye Fire 1980

DC Bruce Vander Voort 2010 - 2014

2021 DC Frank P Calamita

April 30, 2019: BC Donn Langevin promoted to Deputy Chief

Captain (Engine 1) and Deputy Chief Helmets of William Henderson Jr.

Fleming Family Helmets

3 Michael Flemings' have achieved Chief Officer ranks (combined service 1943-2019)

Captain (Engine 1) and Deputy Chief Helmets of Michael J Fleming

Circa 1951-57 - Trumpet decals almost worn off - courtesy Fleming family

Circa 1957-1970 (helmet itself likely also used since 1957 when a Battalion Chief)

Michael P. Fleming
Served 1963-2003 - a 40 year career.

Served as B/C for 19 years from May 1, 1984 until retirement on February 1, 2003

Truck 1 - 1970s

Battalion Chief

Michael P. Fleming Jr.   Served 1991-2019

Captain Ladder 3

Deputy Chief - Tour Commander

Battalion Chief Helmet

Battalion Chief Alex Credidio 1999 -2010

Battalion Chief Alex Credidio 1999 -2010

BC Michael D'Arco - shield made by Captain Joseph Parkin Jr

BC D'Arco

Battalion 1 - John Bradle - 2018

Battalion 3 - Luis Cruz - 2018

AJ Woods 2022

Battalion 4 - Orlando Rodriquez - 2018

Brand New - June 2019 - BC Michael Cleenput

2022 BC Shields

Battalion Chief Uniform Cap

Battalion Chief rank was established in 1916 - Below is cap of BC Nolan

1939 Cap of BC James Kennedy

In June 2019 Battalion Chiefs transitioned back to white caps (discontinued in the 1920s)

Courtesy of BC Michael Caposella (June 2019)

​Engine Company 1
Captain's & Firefighter Helmets

Captain Patsy Fusaro - ~1963 -1964"

February 1965: Captain Fusaro (wearing above helmet), Dr Raso & FF Stu McKay - Essex Street Fire

Captain Edward Hancock circa 1964 from Hancock Collection

Captain Thomas Ottavino

Captain Thomas Ottavino

circa 1990 F/F Ray Allex Jr

Ray Allex Jr with helmet

Craig Lauten - Appointed June 12, 1995 and Captain of Engine 1 - September 2009 - Retired September 2017

Captain Giocchino Panico 2018

Captain Giocchino Panico 2018

FF Thomas Perea

FF Thomas Perea

Engine Company 2
Captain's & Firefighter Helmets

Early Engine 2 "High Eagle" style FF helmet - badge # missing

Schoonmaker Collection

Vince Marchese photo

Helmet of long time engine 2 Captain Albert "Hoot" Novick (1943-1968).  On the shield the left trumpet (captain's insignia) is worn off.

Courtesy Raymond Novick

While quartered at Hillcrest Firehouse on Union Avenue

Captain Ronald Fortino Tour 4 August 2018

FF Kyle Broadfield -Tour 4 - 2018

FF Kyle Broadfield - 2018

Engine Company 3
​Captains & Firefighter Helmets

Captain Harry Huber- retired 1979

Courtesy of Huber Family

Captain Sam Harris - Dayspring photo - December 27, 2018

Captain Harris - Dayspring photo

Dayspring photo - December 27, 2018

Dayspring photo - December 27, 2018

Engine Company 4
​Captains & Firefighter Helmets​

Worn by Michael D'Arco 2004-2010

Helmet of Michael D'Arco

Another E4 Captain's Helmet worn by Alex Credidio

Captain Alex Credidio 1987 - 1999

Engine 4 helmet used by FF Elizabeth Melhorn Fournier (first PFD female FF)

Engine 4 Captain and Firefighter Helmet August 2018

Captain Jason Macones (with eye shield)

Captain Jason Macones (with eye shield)

FF Adrian Orbe with wooden door chock

FF Adrian Orbe with weye shield deployed & wooden door chock

FF Adrian Orbe with wooden door chock

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Engine Company 5
​Captain's Helmet​

Engine 5 Fireman's Helmet of Frank Limongi (appointed 1956)

Courtesy Captain Harry Price

​Captain's Helmet of William Comer 1960-1963

Captain Charles S. Walker  circa 1950-60's

Captain Edward J Conklin - Engine Company 5.  The emblem on shield is from the 
​ Third Marine Division that Captain Conklin was assigned to during Vietnam.
​Became Captain in 1989. 

Below is helmet of Bruce Vander Voort - Captain Engine 5 1994- 2003

Engine 5: Captain and Firefighter 

December 2018 - Dayspring photo

Engine 5 Captain (Jamie Garced)  Tour 1

Dayspring Photo December 27, 2018

Dayspring Photo December 27, 2018

Dayspring Photo December 27, 2018

Engine 5 Firefighter 

Dayspring Photo December 27, 2018

Dayspring Photo December 27, 2018

​Engine Company 6
​Fireman's Helmet

Firefighter Jim Durkin

Courtesy Durkin Family

During the 1990s PFD established Rescue 1 which at times was an independent company but at other times operated by Engine 6. Note the blue colored (the Rescue Color) shield of an E6 helmet from that era

Hancock Collection

Engine 6  - Captain and Firefighter

Captain Ken Kiefer at left December 27 2018 - Dayspring photo

Captain Joe Parkin Jr

Captain Ken Kiefer

Engine Company 7 Helmets

Captain Michael Walker August 2018

with door chock

Firefighter Manny Soto (top row) and Andres Salazar (bottom row)

Engine Company 8
​Fireman's Helmet

Cairns New Yorker used by Vince Marchese

It was in the early 1990s the department started to replace the Cairns 5 A leather New Yorker with the Cairns 880 series plastic helmet. From there the department began to issue the Cairns 1010 reinforced plastic helmet. The newest helmet now being issued is the Cairns 1044 A it is a reinforced plastic leather look helmet with built-in goggles that are stored in the dome of the helmet that flip down when needed. Below is the thermoplastic or composite NFPA approved helmet which was issued to Vince Marchese in the early 1990's showing eye guards and thermal neck protector.

Helmet of Auxiliary Firefighter Vince Marchese

Engine Company 9
​Fireman's Helmet

FF David Quackenbush served (Engine 9 and later Fire Alarm) from July 1, 1916 to his retirement on August 1, 1954  (photo courtesy Michael Mauro)

Engine Company 10
​Fireman's Helmet

Firefighter Jack Nargiso  192 is his badge number

Engine Company 11  
Replica Helmet

Helmet replica was part of a "Smokers Set" given to FF Jim Durkin (Badge 165) by his son PFD EMT Supervisor Jim Durkin

Engine Company 12 
Captain's Helmet

Captain Robert "Woody" Woodruff

Captain Robert "Woody" Woodruff

Engine Company 12
​Lieutenant's Helmet / Shield

Helmet of Harold L. Schoonmaker - Courtesy of the Schoonmaker family - Vincent Marchese photo

Helmet of Harold L. Schoonmaker - Courtesy of the Schoonmaker family - Vincent Marchese photo

Engine Company 13
​Fireman's Helmet / Shield

Dayspring Collection

Firefighter Edward Conklin's Helmet

Floating Captain's Helmet

This Captain's helmet below belonged to Edward Allen who served as a floating captain before being assigned to a specific company

​Rescue Company
Helmets and and Shields

Captain Rescue 2: White shield with a dark blue letter on a white background

Rescue 2 Helmet of Captain Scott Parkin (circa 2016)

Rescue 2 Helmet of Captain Michael Scherer (2023)

Firefighter's Rescue 1 Helmet circa 1994 - Black shield with blue "Rescue Co" letters on a white background and white number "1" and PFD on a dark blue background

Michael D'Arco

Michael D'Arco

Michael D'Arco

Michael D'Arco

Firefighter's Rescue 2 Helmet - Black shield with a white letter on a dark blue background

R2 helmet after a tough job - Courtesy FF Scott Wilson

July, 2020 - Captain Arthur J (AJ) Woods 

Squad 1

During its existence the Squad Company FF had green helmet shields. The photo below depicts that of William "Flip" Fillipelli (FMBA President)

Courtesy Fillipelli Family

Squad 1 shield of Bill Filippelli

Filippelli Family Helmet Display

Ed Allen - Squad Captain Helmet

Squad 6

Entered Service December 19, 2022

Shield of Tour 2 Captain Rod Ziedler

Squad 6 Firefighter Shield

Captain R Zeidler "Ziggy" also known as "Squadfather"

FF Rich Lisowski Helmet

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Truck Company Captains Shields

Eifler Collection

​Truck Company 1
​Captain's Helmet

Captain Jim Pasquariello  
Note the red color of the numeral 1

Ladder 1 Captain & Firefighter Helmets

Captain Dante Destefano and Firefighter Kyle Hughes  (President Paterson Fire Association)

2018 photos (at Madison Avenue Firehouse)

​Truck Company 2
​Fireman's Helmet

Well know and well respected Firefighter Joseph Parkin Sr. City of Paterson Fire Department badge # 231 was appointed December 1st 1957 and retired March 1st 1982. He served in Engine Company 3, B shift, from 1957 - 1969 and Truck Company 2, Tour 4, from 1969 - 1982. The helmet pictured is his Cairns leather he used for 27 years. It was repaired several times throughout his career, at one point soaking it for nearly a week in water to reshape it and restitch it after it had been accidentally run over by 2 Truck at a tour change. Like all helmets if it could talk it would have many interesting stories. The fire scene photo, with Joe wearing the helmet is from 1978, a second alarm fire at Kings TV repair shop at the intersection of Ryle Road, West Broadway and Presidential Boulevard.

Presentation of helmet at Fireman's Hall on  Walnut Street: L-R Ray Cusack, Joe Parkin Sr, Mike Ross and kneeling in front Roy McGinniss The helmet and plaque were made by Joe's son, Captain Joe Parkin Jr,

For more on Joe Parkin Sr visit the Notable Events Page, as a new Tower Ladder (2) was dedicated to his service at the new state of the art Fire Headquarters which was also officially opened at this ceremony.

Truck Company 2
​Lieutenant's Helmet

Richard Shortway -- Vince Marchese photo

Lieutenant Richard Shortway - appointed to Lieutenant February 1958

Truck Company 2
​Captain's Helmet

Ladder 2 Captain & Firefighter

Captain William Henderson Sr.  ~1989 - 2000

Ladder 2 Captain and Firefighter Helmets August 2018

Captain Pete Lobosco Tour 1

Captain Pete Lobosco Tour 1

FF Michael Oates Tour 1

FF Michael Oates Tour 1

Engine or Truck Company 3
​Captain's Helmet ?

Captain's white shield  - red number signifies Truck (Ladder) company (3) but two trumpets signify Engine company

Note red lettering but trumpet decals

​​Truck Company 3
​Captain and  Fireman's Helmets and Shields

Firefighter - red background, white number -

Captan: White shield with red letter

Below is Firefighter Jim Pasquariello  134 was his badge number

Courtesy Chief James Pasquariello

Dayspring photo - December 27, 2018

Ladder 3 Captain (Ascary "Scotty" Rios)  Tour 1

Dayspring Photo December 27, 2018

Dayspring Photo December 27, 2018

Dayspring photo

​Presentation Helmet

Presented upon Captain Scott Parkin's retirement June 1, 2019

Shield was the work of noted FDNY helmet shield painter Ed May

Chief's Aide Helmet

Helmet of John B. Murphy: Appointed July 1, 1916 - Driver for Battalion Chief Nolan February 1, 1918 – Driver for Chief of Department May 18, 1926 – Retired April 1, 1957.Note the high Eagle Finial and the increased height of the shield, so typical of that era.

Chief's Aide John B. Murphy - Courtesy Brian Fleischer

Side view - Courtesy Brian Fleischer

 - Helmet of Carmine Caposella: ​Appointed July 1, 1954 – Retired October. 1, 1975

Carmine Caposella - courtesy Mike Caposella

Jim Durkin - 1980s

Jim Durkin - 1980s

Jim Durkin - 1980s

Jim Durkin - 1980s

Jim Durkin - 1980s

Jim Durkin - 1980s

Ambulance

Helmet of FF/EMT Angelo Marzella (badge #444) worked at Rescue 2 and also Ambulance Unit 96. He put a 96 shield (Rescue Co shields are blue) on one of his old helmets for when he was assigned to ambulance duty ("riding the bus")

Helmet atop Unit 96

Fire Investigation Unit - 68 - 

Courtesy Scott Wilson

Scott Wilson Helmet

Probationary Firefighter's Helmet

FF Joe DeSomma

Chaplain's Helmet

Father Patrick Ryan August 2018

Father Patrick Ryan June 3, 2018

Paterson Fire Surgeon's Helmet

Helmet mounted after Dr Peters tenure on a cigarette lighter

1959

1965

Paterson Fire Commissioner's Helmet

Fire Commissioner Robert Shavick 1967

Director of Public Safety

April 2019

Director Jerry Speziale

Mayor

Andrew Sayegh - April 30, 2019

FC Brian J McDermott, Police Chief Troy Oswalt, Director of Public Safety Jerry Speziale

PFD CD Auxiliary aluminum helmet. Cairns & Brothers. Paterson issued these helmets for their Auxillary Fireman from the 1940's right through the early 70's. In the 1970s most quickly replaced them with the leather style New Yorker.

Vince Marchese Helmet

Collection of Rick Mosher

1890's Helmet Shield Regulations

From the 1893 Rules and regulations book: For all members of hook and ladder companies, same as for officers of hook and ladder companies, omitting the insignia of rank, and except that the front will be of red patent leather with the number of the company on a back-ground of white patent leather, and the registered number of each member in white figures, one inch long, painted on a line below. 

For officers of Truck companies, the shield will be of red leather, and have a white patent leather stitched front, with the number of the company cut out of it near the bottom in plain block figures, on a background of red patent leather (three and one-half inches long, if it be a single figure, and two and one-half inches long, if it be a double figure), and with the insignia of rank above it in gold, shaded with red.

Truck Company 3 Helmet Shields

Floating Captain's Shield

Floating Captains Shield: A vintage and rather rare Paterson Fire Department "floating" Captain's shield circa 1970's. It was originally used by Captain John Minardi many years ago and then passed to Scott Parkin who had the privilege of using it before being assigned to Engine Company 6 and Rescue Company 2. 

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Floating Captain Shield

July 2, 2020:  Presentation shield given by members of Rescue 2 to former Captain AJ Woods upon his promotion to Battalion Chief

PFD Hard Hats - worn during construction of McBride Avenue Firehouse

Hancock Collection

Over the years, including the Volunteer era, most Paterson Firemen have ordered their helmets from Cairns in Clifton, NJ. Over they decades that company created interesting advertising paraphernalia. 
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