FDNY Tales - Disney World Its Not

FDNY Tales - Disney World, it's Not

Quarters of Engine 94 and Ladder 48.

Captain Cole takes off his white uniform cap. "Did you hear what happened the other night at 60 and 17" (Engine Co. 60 and Ladder Co. 17)?

Manny Pena, of Ladder 48, sucking up his cup of green tea shoots back, "Tell us Cap."

"It was Frankie Henn's birthday and being the consummate chef and butcher that he is, he promised to prepare the evening meal. On the menu was meatloaf extraordinaire, with all the trimmings including Caesar salad and cherry cobbler for dessert.

After responding to a false alarm and a car fire, Henn was hard at work cooking up dinner. Box 2156 hits in for Engine Co. 83 and Ladder Co. 29, right down the street from their firehouse.

About ten minutes later, the housewatchman at Engine 60 and Ladder 17 comes on the intercom, and announces that an All Hands has been transmitted, and both units go on a second alarm.

Ten minutes later, "Engine 60 and Ladder 17 respond to the second alarm at Cypress Avenue and 138th Street" directs the busy Bronx dispatcher. Dinner will have to wait. Lieutenant O'Rourke shouts out, 'Everybody goes and Frankie make sure you turn the oven off."

The men rush to their rigs, don their gear, and out the door they go, red lights flashing and sirens wailing piercing the dark ghetto night.

The fire on the corner of Cypress Ave. and 138th Street is roaring on the top two floors of a partially occupied tenement and has spread to the top floor of an adjoining building. Lt. Frank O'Rourke, Engine 60 and Captain Mike Laffey, Ladder 17 are ordered into the adjoining building. The troops rush in. A hose line is stretched, an aerial ladder moves skyward, and a search is conducted. Ventilation is not necessary since a previous fire has the roof opened up to visible red flames and a heavy smoke condition from the building next store.

After an hour and a half, the blaze is under control. The units take up and head back to the firehouse for Frankie Henn's meatloaf.

Back in the kitchen, Firefighter Henn opens the oven, looks in and screams out, "In Nomine Patris Et Filii Et Spiritus Sancti, Amen!"

"At ease," comes a quick reply from Mike Sullivan. If you want us to say grace before meals, we'll do that and sing happy birthday to you at the same time!"

Henn's astonished face warrants attention as he points and stares into the oven, and screams out, "there's a dozen mice in there eating up my meatloaf. I can't believe it. Mickey and Minnie Mouse and their family have annihilated my culinary work of art. Well it's like this brothers. We're in the South Bronx and rats, mice, bedbugs and cockroaches reign supreme!"

Eddie McLoughlin paused, shook his head, rolled his eyes and screamed out laughingly, "What do we do now?"

Before anyone can answer, the two units are out the door, once again, responding to an alarm for Concord Ave. and 147th St. Arriving on the scene, it's a false alarm. Signal ten-nine-two for Box 2212.

On the way back to the firehouse, the troops stop at Kentucky Fried Chicken and purchase a couple of buckets of Colonel Sanders favorite food. The meal is saved!

Captain Cole concludes his gossipy story and the troops in the kitchen on Seneca Avenue are in hysterics.

Lt. Jim Finnegan suggests that they should buy some mouse traps in the morning and have someone drop them off at 60 and 17's quarters.

The vote is unanimous and Mickey Mouse is now in serious trouble! He may have to move back to Disney World. (Frank Cull)

Now it's your turn. If you have a story that you'd like to submit, or have an idea for a story please let us know. Send it to: fdnytales@Fire-Police-EMS.com

Thanks, Ira Hoffman