Fire: Hell on Earth! The Bronx - 1979

Growing up in New York City....this reporter, John Johnson the BEST. He has a great voice, a pure professional and one of the people I trusted during the tough years of the 1970s and 1980s. Not many people know that during these years....there were 1,800 to 2,600 murders a year, depending on the year. That you John Johnson. Thank you for for posting this gem!

Incredible. I never get tired of watching these videos. My father was a Lt in Engine 17, Pitt and Delancy St back in the 1970s when the lower east side was burning. As John Johnson correctly stated, my father's health has suffered greatly from his work in the FDNY and many of his friends have long died, but he'll be the first to say that being a NYC Fireman was the best job in the world.

This is an excellent report. John Johnson was an icon in New York City. He has the best voice for news reports. He is sorely missed.

Back when even news anchors had a REVERENCE for reporting and the seriousness of what they were reporting on. Now it’s all blatant entertainment of disrespect and unnecessary comments by young immature anchors and/stories.

I miss quality journalism like this

John Johnson, Roger Grimsby, Bill Beutel and Rosanne Scamardella. That was that Channel 7 team everybody watched if you grew up in the Tri State. Fire is a devastating way to lose your home or your life.

I remember when I was an Auxiliary Fire Captain in the New York City Fire Department assigned to the Community Relations Bureau. I used to ride with Satellite One that was quartered on Canal Street in lower Manhattan New York City. The Satellite Officer would respond to every Second Alarm Fire in the City. In the back of his Station wagon there was the Manifold. I even remember responding with Satellite One to Far Rockaway to a third alarm fire in a Queen Anne home. Yep those were the war years of the New York City Fire Department.

Gritty '70s NYC. Never lived there, before my time, but I'm incredibly fascinated by it. I'd love to go back in time and walk around those streets for a day. Without getting mugged. lol

one of the best video's on youtube, God bless the FDNY

back then the owners of those slum buildings were constantly pulling "insurance jobs", burning the buildings down... wild times

John Johnson was the man back in the day...

Thank you for showing this.

Man, look at the old bread truck ambulance at the end. It's crazy how our job has evolved as well.

I'm glad that this was archived.

The Greatest Job on Earth!

Holy shit, think about the number of calls. 39000, over 2 years... that averages to over 50 calls a day. That is fucking unbelievable.

These fire fighters are great

outstanding!!! great video bro. thanks

Very informative video, Thank you for your sharing this.

.....priceless, historical, great vid!!! I lived across the street from another house just as busy in those days, E71 (the war wagon) & L55, the Melrose section of the South Bx....OMG!!!!