THE SECOND FIFTY YEARS By the end of World War II in 1945, fire activity in Ladder 28's first alarm district started to experience an upward trend. The housing stock of Harlem began to age and overcrowding started to become a problem. The depression years of the 1930's still lingered amongst Harlem's population and an economic downturn continued. In 1950, Ladder 28 chalked up 1116 runs, which made them #12 in the entire city. This was a far cry from the first full year of operation of Hook & Ladder 28 in 1906, when they responded to 311 alarms. The Headquarters staff of the FDNY began to recognize and acknowledge that Harlem was experiencing a significant increase in fire activity, so in 1955 the Fire Commissioner organized Squad Unit # 1 in with Engine 59 which then were located at 180 West 137th street between 7th Avenue and Lenox Avenue. 
In those years a Squad Unit was mainly a manpower company whose mission was to increase the number of firefighters present during the early stages of a fire. 1955 was also the year that a member of Ladder 28 was awarded the James Gordon Bennett Medal for the first time. The FDNY's highest award for valor was presented to Michael J. O'Driscoll for a daring rescue of two occupants from a tenement fire at 2915 8th Avenue on December 17,1955. An interesting side note is that in 1962 on October 11th, the aide in the 16 Battalion (FF Lawrence F. Duenas) was awarded the James Gordon Bennett Medal for a rescue of a man and child from the premises 259 W 152nd Street. By 1965, Ladder 28 continued to get busier having responded to 1816 runs that year. It should be noted that Ladder 28 has a very small first alarm district yet does a high level of fire duty in occupied structures. This notable fact is the hallmark of Ladder 28 for many years. A chief in the 16 Battalion once remarked that "for such a small area, there is a large number of fires." This statement accurately describes Ladder 28. No truer words were ever spoken. 
 In 1966, a spectacular scaling ladder rescue was executed by Firefighter Ferraiuolo of Ladder 28, for which he was awarded the James Gordon Bennett Medal. The fire occurred on March 13, 1966 in a high rise apartment house at 15 West 139th Street near Lenox Avenue. The fire was on the 10th floor of a 17 story residential high rise building. Working from the tip of a fully extended ariel ladder, firefighter Ferraiuolo used the scaling ladder to reach the trapped victims. It is said by many that the busiest years in the history of the New York City Fire Department were between 1968 and 1977. They are referred to as the 'war years'. It started with the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King in April 1968 and stretched to the Great Blackout of1977. Ladder 28 was no exception. 
In just ten years (1965-1975) Ladder 28 doubled their fire duty. In 1975, Ladder 28 responded to 3733 runs. However, after 1977, fire duty remained high in Harlem and a new dimension was added. Vacant building fires were a major problem to many fire companies throughout the City of New York. Vacant buildings began to spring up and down 7th Avenue and 8th Avenue in Ladder 28's area. The side streets in the West 140's and West 150s had their share of vacant buildings and many of them fell victim to fire. However, working fires in occupied tenements was always the "bread and butter for the firefighters assigned to the Harlem Hilton. In 1979, on July 3rd, Lieutenant Neary rescued a young child from certain death in a tenement fire at 301 West 147th Street near 8th Avenue. The chief in charge of the fire stated at the time "I have no knowledge of a finer act". For his heroic actions, Lieutenant Neary was awarded the James Gordon Bennett Medal. This was the second time Lieutenant Neary had been awarded the Bennett Medal. Previously he was awarded this same medal while assigned to Bronx Ladder Company 31. The 1980's started off on a sad and tragic note with the death of Gerard J. Frisby of Ladder 28, who died in the line of duty while operating at an occupied tenement fire on West 151st Street off Amsterdam Avenue. The fire occurred on June 27th, 1980, and was rapidly extending throughout the building. Firefighter Gerard Frisby was cut off and sought escape by a shaft window. Firefighter Lawrence Fitzpatrick of Rescue 3 was lowered with a roof rope in an effort to reach Firefighter Frisby. Upon reaching Firefighter Frisby, both firefighters were being lowered to the ground when the rope suddenly snapped. Bother firefighters fell to the ground receiving fatal injuries. 
Fire duty remained consistent during the 1980's and on July 26,1987, Firefighter Jack McDonnell of Ladder 28 received the James Gordon Bennett Medal for a roof rope rescue of a male adult from a fire at 304 West 151 Street near 8th Avenue. It was about this time that a change was starting to take place in Harlem and continues today. Many of the vacant tenements were being renovated, still others were demolished and new housing was put into place. Harlem was getting a new lease of life. The streets of Harlem were swept of many of its urban problems that had caused its decline. Slowly but surely, Harlem was regaining its place as a neighborhood that its occupants could be proud of. 
However, "fire" is still an unwelcome visitor. During the 1990's, Ladder 28 continued to do a high level of fire duty. Their local population was increasing as the renaissance of Harlem was continuing. On November 25,1996, a member of Ladder 28 was once again awarded the James Gordon Bennett Medal. The fire occurred in a homeless shelter at 30 Hamilton Place near West 1391h Street. This "establishment" was well known to units of the 16 Battalion. Firefighter John Duddy rescued two civilians from an almost certain demise as fire was rapidly overtaking the entire top floor of this six story structure. In the year 2000, Ladder 28 responded to 3142 alarms as Harlem continued to produce the fires. Fire duty will always be there, "it just happens." The events of September 11,2001 was a sad time for the members of the Harlem Hilton. Members who had previously worked on West 143rd Street perished in the collapse of the towers. Their loss was and still is deeply felt and they will always be remembered. 
Ladder 28 has earned a special place in the long and glorious history of the New York City Fire Department. Harlem has always been known for their heavy fire duty. The officers and members of Ladder 28 have served the residents of Harlem with uncommon valor. Their dedication to duty, they're heroic conduct and their personal sacrifices are well known on the streets of Harlem. The officers and members of Hook & Ladder 28 will continue in this tradition as Harlem moves into the 21 st century. They will be there when they are needed. Their reputation speaks for itself.
Herb Eysser |
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