Training
In the earliest days of the fire department training was entirely on the job. In 1910 the Mayor was not satisfied with fire department discipline and several captains and lieutenants to the New York City Fire Training School to learn the latest technologies. He also instructed the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners to establish a training facility in Paterson.
One of the first accomplishments of Chief Thomas Coyle was the opening of the Department's Training School, located at the Almshouse on Redwood Avenue. A tall drill tower was erected and the men under the direction of Captain John Weber worked with life nets, scaling ladders, rope guns, etc. This facility was used into the 1920s when it finally fell into disrepair.
One of the first accomplishments of Chief Thomas Coyle was the opening of the Department's Training School, located at the Almshouse on Redwood Avenue. A tall drill tower was erected and the men under the direction of Captain John Weber worked with life nets, scaling ladders, rope guns, etc. This facility was used into the 1920s when it finally fell into disrepair.
Training Tower and Facility at left
June 8, 1911: Firemen's Climbing School Paterson Evening News
Courtesy Dennis Morrison
November 1, 1912: Under the training of Captain Weber, a class of 40 men graduated. The following clip is from Mayor Andrew McBride's 1912 Annual Report
Courtesy Dennis Morrison
Note scaling ladders, rope rifles, hoses and old Truck 1 in rear. Captain Weber in center.
Officers at the Training School: L-R Top: Captain John McQuirk, Captain John Weber, Captain William Allen. L-R lower: Captain John Crowley, Captain Robert Wright, Captain William Loughlin
Photo labeled as Class #1 August 10, 1916 (Anthony Natoli Collection)
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Training Tower at Almshouse. Men on scaling ladders.
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The PFD Scaling Ladder shown below is at the Fireman's Museum in Boonton (Dayspring Collection). The various parts are: Spar (main structural beam through which rungs are passed); Rungs; Hook (steel member which hooks over window sill); Gooseneck (curved part of hook at top of the spar; Shields (two devices which hold the ladder out from the wall at a sufficient distance to allow grasping the spar while climbing); Braces (metal braces under the rungs); Straps (metal bands which are a continuation of the hook extending the full length of the spar, securely bolted to it, one being on front and other on the back).
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The Gooseneck with terminal Hook is 3-4 feet long
The curved shield kept ladder away from building. Note Straps on edges of spar
Shield affixed to straps between top rungs
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The 1932 Fire Chief's Handbook has 12 pages devoted to proper use of Scaling (Pompier Ladders.
One of 12 pages from 1932 Fire Chief's handbook
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1916 Letter from ALF to PFD re delivery of Pompier Ladders
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Circa 1919: Truck 2 (battery powered) aerial drilling at YMCA. Note fireman using a scaling ladder on left side of building. Also note electric (battery powered) hose wagon at left: likely Engine 1
August 28, 1919 Drill - Note life net Apparatus is Truck 2 (electric Front Drive)
Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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Paterson Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
A claw tool used by PFD (now at Boonton Museum)
1948 Edition of Fire Chief's Handbook
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1948 Edition of Fire Chief's Handbook
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circa: 1929 Ahrens Fox aerial demonstration City Hall (not a Paterson aerial)
Other old PFD Truck Company Tools at the Booton Museum - A "Detroit" Door opener and a Battering Ram
1948 Edition of Fire Chief's Handbook
1948 Edition of Fire Chief's Handbook
More PFD tools: A tin roof opener and a hose strap carried by Truck companies and a Bresnan Cellar Distributor by Engine Companies
Truck 1: From the Fire Chief's handbook: The sharp edge does the cutting and the point of tool is driven into the tin, and the tin pried up sufficiently to get the tool point beneath it. Cutter is then forced along in front of the operator and the tin is cut on the knife edge of the cutter.
Used for carrying hose lines up ladders, for securing hose lines to fire escapes and ladders and for assisting in handling lines in other matters
Used in cellar fires operating through the floor to a fire below.
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Also used in attic fires
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Truck company pitchfoork
Halligan Bar: the red and yellowing colors at the neck is for a specific engine company
November 1940: Letter from a citizen to Mayor Furrey which was passed on to Fire and Police Commissioners regarding smoke inhalation situation with firemen (see news clips below)
Dayspring Collection
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Dayspring Collection
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Dayspring Collection
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Dayspring Collection
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February 28, 1949: letter to Chief JamesTroy from makers of Scott Air-Paks
Dayspring Collection
April 6, 1949: Letter from Chief Troy re department needs and condition of scaling ladders.
Dayspring Collection
Four decades after the original training tower, in 1964, the department finally built a new training tower at the Southside Firehouse on Getty Avenue.
Tower at rear of Southside Firehouse -- Dayspring Photo
Early 1970: Firefighters appointed November 1969, underwent training, as described below from DC Al Capter (drillmaster) and Salvatore Madama (assistant drillmaster). Clips and photos from Ed McCran collection.
Spelling errors: Should be Madama, Arbis & Avelino
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Southside FDH Drill Tower
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DC Sal Madama at left
Training Manuals used by Paterson Firemen for operation and preparing for promotional exams
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1986: PFD works on extraction from Motor Vehicles at Police Academy. Below is FF Gerald Sloginski of Engine 6
1995 PFD Academy at Southside - Aerial drill with FF at tip
Carlos Abreu (future Captain) is at tip of ladder
Shown below is the Driver Simulator located at the Madison Avenue Firehouse. It was purchased from a Federal grant for driver training
2002: A newspaper discussing what has been learned from a century of firefighting dating back to the Great 1902 Conflagration -- and September 11, 2001 --- the evolution of training in PFD
July 20, 2009: Firefighter Ernie Filippelli (later a Captain) was seriously burned at a fire when he was forced to jump out of a 3rd floor window. He spent several months at St. Barnabas Hospital with severe burn injuries and was lucky to escape with his life. The video shows an interview with him and a demonstration of the department's new bail-out system which all members now get.
February 14, 2014: Forty Paterson firefighters on Thursday completed a three-day training course on performing ice rescues conducted at Barbour Pond on Garret Mountain in Clifton.
The training was provided through a $107,736 grant under the United States Department of Homeland Security’s federal Assistance to Firefighters program, according to a press release issued by the firefighters’ union. In addition to the training, the grant also will cover the cost of 50 personal floatation devices, 20 throw-bags with snag plates, two floatation kits for stretchers, 1,200 feet of floating rescue rope, 20 ring buoys, 40 mesh duffle bags, 40 water rescue knives, and enough waterproof boots, gloves, vests, helmets, wet/dry suits, and locating strobe lights to outfit 40 firefighters, the press release said. Day in and day out we see that our members must be trained for any incident that may occur,” said Battalion Chief Brian McDermott who oversaw today's training. “Chief Postorino has shown leadership in making sure that we are the best trained Department in the state, while keeping costs to a minimum.”
Twenty-four of the firefighters also were certified so they will be able to train other members of the city’s fire department, the press release said.
The training was provided through a $107,736 grant under the United States Department of Homeland Security’s federal Assistance to Firefighters program, according to a press release issued by the firefighters’ union. In addition to the training, the grant also will cover the cost of 50 personal floatation devices, 20 throw-bags with snag plates, two floatation kits for stretchers, 1,200 feet of floating rescue rope, 20 ring buoys, 40 mesh duffle bags, 40 water rescue knives, and enough waterproof boots, gloves, vests, helmets, wet/dry suits, and locating strobe lights to outfit 40 firefighters, the press release said. Day in and day out we see that our members must be trained for any incident that may occur,” said Battalion Chief Brian McDermott who oversaw today's training. “Chief Postorino has shown leadership in making sure that we are the best trained Department in the state, while keeping costs to a minimum.”
Twenty-four of the firefighters also were certified so they will be able to train other members of the city’s fire department, the press release said.
