Vintage Video From the "Icehouse" Fire

The "Icehouse" fire was coined because the extreme cold and ice made the warehouse structure looking like an icehouse. The classic Grand Opera House was built in 1868 and saw its end in 1960 ... a Welfare Island bus crashed and fell into the East River and seven people died.

FDNY - Vintage - 1977
Location: Hamilton Beach (Howard Beach), Queens, NYC

This is the scene that greated the first arriving companies (Eng. 331 Lad. 173) to this fully involved two story stilt house fire in the Hamilton Beach section of Queens, NYC.
The photo was taken as the roof and second floor collasped. Note the heat causing the canal water to steam.
This one alarm fire burned itself out before the engine companies could stretch a line down the narrow wooden boardwalk and attack the fire.

Note: This is one of the few areas of NYC that is served by both the FDNY and a volunteer fire department (W. Hamilton Beach F.D.)

Scanned from the original Kodak high speed ektachrome (ASA 160) slide

PAUL D. VITUCCI - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

FDNY - Vintage - 1977
Fort Apache Section, Bronx, NYC

Tower Ladder 21 waits for water as heavy fire extends from the 3 floor to the 5th floor in this 5 story vacant apartment building. During the arson for profit days of the 1970's this was a common site in many Brooklyn and Bronx neighborhoods.

This all hands fire (1 alarm) was brought under control utilizing an exterior attack with two extra tower ladders.

Scanned from the original kodak High Speed Ektachrome (ASA 400) slide. 

PAUL D. VITUCCI - AL RIGHTS RESERVED C.2007