|
How do you provide fire protection for
646 acres of 200 "temporary" structures with 30,000
full-time employees and an expected 250,000 visitors during each
14-hour day? The 1964 World's Fair Corporation engaged Pinkerton's
International Detective Agency to provide a number of essential
services at the Fair, including fire protection. To raise a cadre
of qualified and experienced fire fighters for this temporary
engagement, Pinkerton's turned to the retirees of the Fire Department
of the City of New York (FDNY). In all, 100 seasoned men were
hired and a full-fledged World's Fair Fire Department was formed.
Members of one of the Fair's three
Fire Companies
 |
The fire department was commanded by former
FDNY Assistant Chief Thomas P. O'Brien. Chief O'Brien also had
one Assistant Chief, retired FDNY Battalion Chief James E. Gowdy.
A Manual was written for the department that resembled that of
any other organized fire department and was clearly modeled after
that of the FDNY, though much abbreviated.
One of three specially manufactured
pumpers. Designed to be a slim 17 feet to maneuver down the Fair's
narrow streets.
 |
Three pumpers and one rescue truck, specially
designed by Chief O'Brien, were each manned by one Captain, three
Lieutenants, and twenty firemen on a platoon system. The pumpers
were manufactured by H&H Apparatus of Jersey City, New Jersey.
They were built on 1962 Willy's chassis (original makers of the
world famous "Jeeps") and were equipped with a 500
gallon-per-minute pump, nearly 2,000 feet of hose, ladders and
an assortment of fire fighting and rescue tools. The trucks had
to be a slim 17 feet wide so that they could be driven down any
of the Fair's streets; the smallest of which was 20 feet wide.
Not traditional "fire engine red," these trucks were
painted in the Fair's blue and orange colors. They were deployed
in three fire stations situated around the perimeter of the Fairgrounds;
one on the northwest area at the Security Building, one on the
northeast side and one near the aquacade on the south side of
the Long Island Expressway.
Front view of unit WFFD 3. The units
were built on chassis manufactured by Willey -- makers of the
original Jeep
 |
In addition, the WFFD provided a chauffeur
for each of the four ambulances of the World's Fair Medical Department.
A far cry from today's modern ambulances, these were little more
than station wagon cars equipped with a stretcher, red light
and siren. Built by Oldsmobile, they were donated to the Fair
by General Motors.
Few of the Fair's visitors were aware that
they were protected by this unique professional group. The fire
department was disbanded at the Fair's conclusion in 1965 and
its equipment was sold.
|
