FDNY holding free firehouse tours to celebrate 150 years

Neighbors invited to open houses on Saturday

April 30, 2015 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Engine 205/ Ladder 118 in Brooklyn Heights is one of hundreds of New York City firehouses opening their doors to the public this Saturday to celebrate 150 years of service. Photo courtesy of FDNY

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Red, orange and yellow banners are flying from hundreds of New York City Fire Department firehouses across the city to invite the public to help celebrate FDNY’s 150 years of service.

As part of the year-long celebration, FDNY is holding open houses in fire and EMS stations this Saturday.

The department is inviting neighbors to take a tour, view demonstrations, learn fire and life safety tips, explore FDNY careers, and meet the firefighters, EMTs and paramedics who help keep them safe every day.

Last December, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro said the city was using the occasion to both celebrate the past and to make sure that in the future, FDNY becomes more representative of the population it serves.

“…We’re going to see quite a bit of the FDNY at parades, festivals, sporting events, concerts, and attractions – events that bring energy and tourism to our city,” Nigro said. “We are going to bring New Yorkers into firehouses like never before, in many diverse communities we serve, because we want everyone to know what this department is all about.”

The occasion is themed “The Year of the Bravest.”

De Blasio and Nigro unveiled a new logo for the 150th celebration, which features axes and the Star of Life. A limited edition collector patch was designed by Firefighter Richard I. Miranda of Rescue Company 1. The patch features the Tribute in Light –- the memorial art installation displayed each year on the anniversary of September 11th.

Some of the firehouses will be open from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., while others are open from 1 – 3 p.m. FDNY has published an interactive map of all the open houses and their hours on its website at www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/