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Yonkers Fire Department

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Yonkers Fire Department

The Yonkers Fire Department (YFD) provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Yonkers, New York, United States.

The department currently responds to approximately 15,000 emergency calls annually. The current Chief of Department/Fire Commissioner is William Fitzpatrick.

Firefighting in Yonkers originated in 1852 when the first fire company, Protection Engine Co. 1, was formed there. The following year, in 1853, the Hope Hook & Ladder Co. 1 was formed, as well as the Lady Washington Engine Co. 2. In 1855, all fire companies in Yonkers were privately owned and not under the jurisdiction of village authorities. The village appropriated funds to purchase the fire apparatus from the private citizens who owned the fire companies. From 1868 until the late 1890s, fourteen additional fire companies were formed including The City of Yonkers Fire Department (YFD), established in 1896. By 1888, the volunteer fire companies in Yonkers had grown to 386 firemen. In 1895, fire commissioners were authorized by the Yonkers Common Council after the city charter was revised.

On August 6, 1896, the Fire Commissioner's Board appointed six paid firemen to the Palisade Avenue Firehouse. Three paid firemen were appointed to the Hope Hook & Ladder Co. 1, and three men were appointed to the Lady Washington Engine Co. 2, both quartered in the same firehouse. The appointments marked the first paid firemen in the Yonkers Fire Department. In October 1897, five paid firemen were added to the firehouse on Vineyard Avenue (Station 2).

By the end of 1913, eight pieces of fire apparatus were motorized. In 1914, Truck Co. 4 was placed into service at the Station 4 Radford Street Firehouse. By 1916, the entire Yonkers Fire Department was motorized, and the department had over 126 firemen.

On March 13, 1961, Truck Co. 5 was moved from Station/Engine 7, to Station/Engine 12, on Fortfield Avenue. On September 1, 1961, the department acquired its own radio system. Also in 1961, YFD took delivery of a Mack B/Gerstenslager Walk-In Heavy Duty Rescue Apparatus running as Rescue Company 1 out of Fire Headquarters-Station 1. Two 1961 Ward LaFrance Fire Brands Pumpers were purchased (One assigned to Engine Co.2 and Engine Co. 8). In 1963, Yonkers Fire Department purchased one Ward LaFrance MarkII/Ambassador Pumper, which originally started at Engine Co. 1, before moving over to Engine Co. 2 in 1967 and then in 1971 as Engine Co. 3, before being destroyed in an accident. After the accident, the roof of the Ward LaFrance MarkII/Ambassador was cut and placed on top of the Ward LaFrance Fire Brand assigned to Engine Co. 7. In March 1967, the Yonkers Fire Department took delivery of a New Mack C Pumper that was assigned to Engine Co. 1 at Station 1/Fire Headquarters. Later in 1967, the Yonkers Fire Department took delivery of an American LaFrance 900 Series 100 ft Mid Mount Aerial Truck, that was assigned to Truck Co. 1 at Station 1/Fire Headquarters. On December 21, 1967, Truck Co. 7 was organized and placed into service at Station/Engine 14. In 1968, Yonkers FD took delivery of an additional Mack C Pumper, which was assigned to Engine Co. 4 on Radford Street. On July 31, 1970, the YFD acquired the Bureau of Combustibles. In 1971, the YFD turned 75 and consisted of 13 Engine Companies, 7 Truck Companies, 1 Rescue Company, and a force of 405 uniformed firemen.

In 1980, a new Station 8, located at 571 Warburton Avenue, was opened. It replaced the old carriage house Station 8, located at 607 Warburton Avenue. On July 17, 1980, all Fire Alarm Boxes were removed from street corners, as the city deemed it too costly to repair the system. On August 18, 1980, Ladder Co. 76 was moved from Station 11 to Station 3 on 96 Vark Street. On September 15, 1980, Station 2 (quarters of Engine Co. 302 and Engine Co. 305) on Vineyard Avenue was permanently closed due to structural issues. Because of this, Engine Co. 302 was relocated to Station 9 and Engine Co. 305 was relocated to Station 1-Fire Headquarters on New School Street. In December 1980, the title of Chief of Department was replaced with the position of "Fire Commissioner".

On April 16, 1981, Yonkers Fire Department Union local 628 employees (approximately 410 firefighters and officers) walked off the job due to a contract dispute. The strike lasted two days.

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