The Fire Next Door - The Bronx, Part-1 of 2

That Bronx police commander was also interviewed on The Police Tapes...  I remember his words. Very intelligent and insightful guy.

That's Tony Bouza, he was interviewed on The Police Tapes. It's funny, because nowadays no cop with rank would give such a frank and candid interview. He left the NYPD in the 1980's and became the police chief in Minneapolis, where he still lives today.

I like the kids helping the fireman with the hose. Growing up I had relatives who lived in the South Bronx. Most of the kids in the neighborhood (like you see in this video) were good decent kids who wanted to become firemen, police, or go to college and become doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists, teachers, etc. Sadly the chances for them to succeed were slim. Many wound up on dope or got involved in trouble. The cards were stacked against them from the day they were born.

So happy to see this true,gritty reality of the Bronx in the 1970s.I grew up in the Bronx around this time(fortunately the Gun Hill Road area,near Co-op City).Riding the train to Manhattan I could count the burned out buildings that were occupied a week before.Morris Ave.was always burning!Thanks so much for posting.

This is a very good video. It really helps explain why Da Bronx burnt so horribly during the War Years. As an FDNY buff I find it very informative. Thanks for posting it R1SmokeEater!

People were so real back then.. they not on video to go viral is the difference. This is just real life. No put on. I love this!

This is well worth the sound issue. Rare footage of this show from 1976. Great job finding this and posting it. For those of us who grew up in the Bronx during this time, it is quite the memory.

I like the poor audio quality of this documentary. Makes it sound nice n old

Thank you so much. This is an important historical document which has really helped me with my research of the Bronx.

The Bronx was what Detroit is today.

Chief Bouze was so ahead of the times . He is actually talking about where we are heading now in 2015.

That’s my grandma pearl , Rest In Peace grandma ☹️🕊💓

Imagine being a fire marshal back then in the Bronx...

Too the person who asked why there were so many fires back then...  There was thing called "red lining" that existed in many cities.  Anywhere minorities lived en masse - banks refused to lend money to invest.  That's what created ghettos.  The South Bronx became the worst of the ghettos.  The city of NY "boxed in" black and Puerto Ricans between Harlem and the neighborhoods that made up "The South Bronx".  Some fires were just because of reckless behavior - but MANY of the fires was because of corruption.  Most landlords knew the city would stop investing in the area so they had the buildings burned down to collect insurance while they lived in the suburbs.

I've been looking for this video for over 5 years

Great vid. Man I wish I was a firefighter back then.

Thx for putting up the vid. Very interesting

Most interesting times ever!

I love that vintage sink and stove.

Interestingly enough. 123 Sesame St. (on the kiddie show, yes, the one I saw as a kid) is probably intended to emulate the architecture of a mid-late 19th century brownstone.