WELCOME TO THE BRIGADE! (NEW YORK CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT, 2055 PART 2)

1950 to 2050

Last week I explained how I had intended to write a more sci-fi version of this email until I did my research and realized how bad-ass the FDNY are in reality. 

So, instead, I've been discussing their actual history, which I'm finishing up here.

The FDNY is made up of fire companies, similar to military companies, and each fire company operates a single type of fire apparatus:

1. Engine companies are tasked with fire suppression: securing a water supply from a fire hydrant, deploying hand lines, then extinguishing a fire. 

2. Ladder companies are tasked with forcible entry, search and rescue, ventilation, and ladder operations at the scene of a fire. A ladder company can operate three types of ladder trucks: the first is an aerial ladder truck, equipped with a 100-foot aerial ladder mounted at the rear of the apparatus; the second is a tower ladder truck, equipped with either a 75- or 95-foot telescoping boom and bucket mounted in the center of the apparatus; the third is a tractor-drawn aerial ladder truck, or tiller/tractor-trailer ladder truck known as a Hook and Ladder, equipped with a 100-foot aerial ladder.

3. Rescue companies contain the most experienced and highly trained members of the FDNY. They are tasked with responding to, and dealing with, specialized fire and rescue incidents that are beyond the scope and duties of a standard engine company.

4. Squad companies contain trained firefighters and were initially established to serve as manpower companies to supplement the operations of engine and ladder companies. They now function as either engine or ladder companies at scene of a fire, but are also equipped with the same equipment and specialized tools as rescue companies.

5. The Hazardous Materials company responds to all major hazardous materials incidents, building collapses, contamination-related incidents, terrorism-related disasters, major emergencies, and a variety of other incidents in which their services are required. The company operates a hazmat truck, similar to a rescue truck, which carries a variety of equipment to deal with hazardous situations.

The FDNY in 2050+ remains structurally intact, and like the NYPD is a sought after job. Automation hasn’t impacted it as drastically as other professions, due mainly to the cost of automated systems. Human life is cheaper than machines.

There is a new company (No.6) that deals with Riot Control, alongside the NYPD. The Brigades’ fire trucks, pumps, and Haz-Mat gear being co-opted to spray crowds with anesthetics, quick setting foam, or other ‘non-lethal’ suppression substances. 

The creation of Company 6 led to the longest period of industrial action in the FDNY’s history, but in the end the need for work won out and the company was formed March 13th 2053.

Would you like to know more about the FDNY 2055?  See a fire-truck design? Or a future Haz-Mat suit? Something else? I'd love to hear your thoughts on what I should do, so send me an email and let me know! 😀

The next email is about ... it

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