FDNY Ride Along with Chief Kenlon

[m173627]

can anyone explain what 3 3 1 4 5 9 decodes as?

I know its the location or type of call or something but more specifically.

[zaffdoc]

@m173627 >>>---> 3 3 means third alarm. 3459 is the fire alarm box number. Decoded it means that the fire dispatch office was stricking out a 3rd alarm to all fire stations for a fire at or near the location of box 3459 fire. Before radios firefighters would go to the nearest fire alarm box to the fire. Open it up with a special key they all had and inside was a telegraph key. used to send code taps. Here they sent in 3 taps twice and pulled the alarm box sent to the dispachers

[zaffdoc]

@zaffdoc >>>---> At the firehouses and dispacth office it was predetermined what each alarm would send in the way of fire equipment. The larger cities with many firehouses would get the same response as the first alarm. Like 4 engines 2 ladder trucks a battalion chief etc. Smaller cities would get a reduction in the number of apparatus they would send on a multiple alarm.

[Thunderbolt505T]

I wish i could drive on the sidewalk!

[zaffdoc]

@Thunderbolt505T >>>---> Well, you can, but you may get arrested.

[shadowwatcher42d]

All the people asking how they could have "dashcams" back in the '20s, This video was originally made with a hand held 8mm spring wound movie camera, or something similar there to, This piece of history was converted to or "re-taped" using modern equipment. I actually saw this film at the FDNY museum back in the late 60s. The Chief's vehicle was equipped with a bell and hand cranked siren. thanks for posting this, brings back times when things were "easier"

[zaffdoc]

@406314 No, The video said the film was made in 1927. Inventors came up with the video concept before World War II (1941), but because of the war it was not implimented until after the war was over and then TVs started showing up in many homes in the early 1950's. Camcorders started showing up in the late 1980's. This movie film was converted to video and that is how you can see it on youtube.

[zaffdoc]

@406314 1939

[zaffdoc]

@406314 1920

[TheUban123]

wild driver!

[Badchoicesmade]

I'm starting to think this was sped up a bit...

[runegobigred5]

really?

[defender195]

that is one crazy fire response!

[Skankpronger]

how many innocent bystanders were killed on the way to the fire?

[swiftandeadly]

Well he was hauling ass. lol.

[rwnlof]

how fast was he driving? thnx for posting!

[freeskier1978]

The traffic is worse than today. All this slow horse buggies in the way. Graet video.

[ellisfd4821son]

thank god we have fire dept driving rules that was just way too reckless

[ncfirefighter910]

that was some badass driving haha

[coop12374]

The traffic sure hasn't changed much from then till now.

[SarniaFireBuff]

great work editing that. it made me dizzy, but its pretty good. the driver really had some skills, thats for sure.

[a1bfd]

that was pretty cool. this is a nice peice of history that you dont get to see everyday. thank you zaffdoc for bringing some of the "good stuff" back to the world1

[301whitehall]

Hahaha Detroit Engine on that lol. I like it thought, Where do you keep getting all these old shots?!

[zaffdoc]

Actually, I took this video with my Kodak Movie Camera. Yeah, RIGHT! Can you imagine what Chief Kenlon's driver could have done with a Dodge Hemi responding to this fire?

[301whitehall]

would been there 2 minutes earlier hahaha

[zaffdoc]

I bet it would have taken him 5 minutes longer. The hemi would not fit on the sidewalks. lol

[zootoo63]

this is amazing!!!! is there any way you could slow it down?