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Bushwick '77: The All Hands Fire

Brooklyn, NY - upfromflames - Tuesday, May 1st, 2007 : goo

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The All Hands Fire was something that you remember. Prior to 9/11, it was the biggest fire ever fought by the modern FDNY. It took 55 units of firefighters from Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn to put out the fire started by three kids playing in an old abandoned knitting factory.

When the fire was over, 23 buildings were destroyed across 7 blocks, leaving a flattened wasteland at this central intersection.

But in Bushwick, they know how to make success from tragedy. CB4 chairwoman Chineda Carter, and CB4 district manager John Derezewski , seeing the open land, knew just what should go there

The NYPD needed a new headquarters to replace their historic but cramped headquarters on Wilson and Dekalb Aves. They convinced the NYPD to relocate here, and ideally central location that has served them well to this day.

Its tempting to look at the All Hands Fire was a positive turning point for Bushwick, since it brought the city and world recognize the desperate straits things were in here—remember, this fire came just 3 days after the NYC Blackout 0f 1977, when rioting and looting had destroyed Broadway.

And money did flow in after that. And there were changes in policy that led to the Bushwick of today, 30 years later.

But I remember what Rick Casuso, a long time resident, told me: “The fire was not the beginning of the rebirth it caused a lot of people to leave, scared a way a lot of good people that were willing to stay”.

Different people remember it differently. But the point is: remember it. What it took to make this place you see today.

(special props to Randy Barron and the photo archive crew at FDNY for releasing these photos to me. Its been 30 years since some of these negatives have seen the light of day. Wish I could tell you more about who took them, but he sure had a great eye!)

For more, visit www.upfromflames.com after June 1st. And check us out at the Brooklyn Historical Society this summer!

This article has been viewed 5018 times in the last 41 months

upfromflames: 1st May 2007 - 03:17 GMT

maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&z=15&ll=40.704034,-73.919663&spn=0.014705,0.029182&om=1&msid=118060197583294432954.00000111d38630a484f78&msa=0

This is my new google map, built for a June 2nd walking tour. But you can find this and other interesting locations for learning all about Bushwick History 77-2007.

Bushwick '77
Live here. Learn here.

upfromflames: 1st May 2007 - 03:29 GMT

http://www.maplib.net/map.php?id=1198

You can also find a panoramic map here. Not as developed, but coming along....

joey: 1st May 2007 - 05:33 GMT

there are few pictures better to photograph than a squirting fire hose, or two

upfromflames: Joey: remember who took them.

Don Canham, Lt. NYFD Ret.: 7th May 2007 - 02:12 GMT

That fire was no "all hands" fire. It was a Boro Call. A boro call is when you run out of enough companies to handle the fire and resort to using companies from other boros, hence a "boro call". I worked out of E-277 on Knickerbocker Avenue between Gates and Palmetto Streetfor a year in a unit called the TCU, Tactical control Unit. As a fireman I went by that corner anywhere from one to fifteen times a tour. After making lieutenant I went to stand by at the aftermath. We also went by Schwaben Hall as many times. We wondered if they would burn down the hall. They did and the surrounding neighborhood was one of the busiest in Brooklyn. Hopefully Bushwick can regain its former glory.

john urbanski: 4th Jun 2007 - 06:20 GMT

I remember the fire very well. Was in front of my house about a mile or so away and seeing a great deal of smoke coming from that direction. Grabbed my camera and headed for the area.
It was a hot summer day to begin with but the heat from the fire made it even worse. Don't think I've seen anything as bad as this in person that was set by kids. Will upload photos when I find them.

Jose Rosa: 7th Feb 2008 - 04:08 GMT

I was seven when the fire took place and I didnt live far and i can still remember the intense heat from the fire, it was sad day...

mike: 9th Aug 2008 - 09:38 GMT

I lost my home in this fire and these pictures bring back sad memories of that day.I come from a family of 8 children and we basically lost everything.That knitting mill was abandoned for years.I am 51 yrs old and will never forget it.My address was 248 Bleecker St which you can see in these pictures.

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Prior to 9/11, it was the biggest fire ever fought by the modern FDNY. It took 55 units of firefighters from Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn to put out the fire started by three kids playing in an old abandoned knitting factory. When the fire was over, 23 buildings were destroyed across 7 blocks, leaving a flattened wasteland at this central intersection. But in Bushwick, they know how to make success from tragedy. CB4 chairwoman Chineda Carter, and CB4 district manager John Derezewski , seeing the open land, knew just what should go there The NYPD needed a new headquarters to replace their historic but cramped headquarters on Wilson and Dekalb Aves. They convinced the NYPD to relocate here, and ideally central location that has served them well to this day. Its tempting to look at the All Hands Fire was a positive turning point for Bushwick, since it brought the city and world recognize the desperate straits things were in here—remember, this fire came just 3 days after the NYC Blackout 0f 1977, when rioting and looting had destroyed Broadway. And money did flow in after that. And there were changes in policy that led to the Bushwick of today, 30 years later. But I remember what Rick Casuso, a long time resident, told me: “The fire was not the beginning of the rebirth it caused a lot of people to leave, scared a way a lot of good people that were willing to stay”. Different people remember it differently. But the point is: remember it. What it took to make this place you see today. (special props to Randy Barron and the photo archive crew at FDNY for releasing these photos to me. Its been 30 years since some of these negatives have seen the light of day. Wish I could tell you more about who took them, but he sure had a great eye!) For more, visit www.upfromflames.com after June 1st. And check us out at the Brooklyn Historical Society this summer! This article has been viewed 5018 times in the last 41 months upfromflames: 1st May 2007 - 03:17 GMT maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&z=15&ll=40.704034,-73.919663&spn=0.014705,0.029182&om=1&msid=118060197583294432954.00000111d38630a484f78&msa=0 This is my new google map, built for a June 2nd walking tour. But you can find this and other interesting locations for learning all about Bushwick History 77-2007. Bushwick '77 Live here. Learn here. upfromflames: 1st May 2007 - 03:29 GMT http://www.maplib.net/map.php?id=1198 You can also find a panoramic map here. Not as developed, but coming along.... joey: 1st May 2007 - 05:33 GMT there are few pictures better to photograph than a squirting fire hose, or two upfromflames: Joey: remember who took them. Don Canham, Lt. NYFD Ret.: 7th May 2007 - 02:12 GMT That fire was no "all hands" fire. It was a Boro Call. A boro call is when you run out of enough companies to handle the fire and resort to using companies from other boros, hence a "boro call". I worked out of E-277 on Knickerbocker Avenue between Gates and Palmetto Streetfor a year in a unit called the TCU, Tactical control Unit. As a fireman I went by that corner anywhere from one to fifteen times a tour. After making lieutenant I went to stand by at the aftermath. We also went by Schwaben Hall as many times. We wondered if they would burn down the hall. They did and the surrounding neighborhood was one of the busiest in Brooklyn. Hopefully Bushwick can regain its former glory. john urbanski: 4th Jun 2007 - 06:20 GMT I remember the fire very well. Was in front of my house about a mile or so away and seeing a great deal of smoke coming from that direction. Grabbed my camera and headed for the area. It was a hot summer day to begin with but the heat from the fire made it even worse. Don't think I've seen anything as bad as this in person that was set by kids. Will upload photos when I find them. Jose Rosa: 7th Feb 2008 - 04:08 GMT I was seven when the fire took place and I didnt live far and i can still remember the intense heat from the fire, it was sad day... mike: 9th Aug 2008 - 09:38 GMT I lost my home in this fire and these pictures bring back sad memories of that day.I come from a family of 8 children and we basically lost everything.That knitting mill was abandoned for years.I am 51 yrs old and will never forget it.My address was 248 Bleecker St which you can see in these pictures. Comment on this article.. Name: Type your comment here: Upload photos (opens in popup window) [previous] :: [next]	search citynoise.org harajuku, paw, سكس, escape hawaii, sucking dick, recent discussions Feeling Sixy? from: Peter SF Heist from: eyeofodin Clap Hands from: elaine Plum Beach from: kc Sane Smith: Puttin' the Green in Greenpoint from: Peter The Benny Farm Condemned Housing Projects from: EvilGentleman Brain Damage Redux from: Peter Pet Bird Paste-ups from: Peter Acorn Community High School from: Peter Fuck Neck Face from: sine from the archives Fredericton Skyscrapers The neat thing about Fredericton, is it's a very tiny city that a lot of people come to for university from tiny towns and villages around the Maritimes. Many people have never really left the places they're from (some... 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Bushwick '77: The All Hands Fire

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upfromflames: 1st May 2007 - 03:17 GMT

upfromflames: 1st May 2007 - 03:29 GMT

joey: 1st May 2007 - 05:33 GMT

Don Canham, Lt. NYFD Ret.: 7th May 2007 - 02:12 GMT

john urbanski: 4th Jun 2007 - 06:20 GMT

Jose Rosa: 7th Feb 2008 - 04:08 GMT

mike: 9th Aug 2008 - 09:38 GMT

Comment on this article..

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