This year Engine 63 / Battalion 15 annual kids Christmas party will be held on Saturday December 19th and will start at noon. All past and present members are encouraged to come. Please call the fire house for additional info.

At 21:08 hrs FDNY Bronx Box 3616 sounded for the 3500 blk of Olinville Ave reporting fire in the basement. Engine 63 and Battalion 15 responded and arrived to find smoke showing from the main entrance of a occupied multiple dwelling. Engine 63's crew stretched a second line and backed up the first due companies, while the All Hands was transmitted by Battalion 15. Companies made quick work of the fire while the trucks opened up and searched. Two lines stretched and operated for fire in the basement of a 200X100 "H" type occupied multiple dwelling. All searches came back negative and the fire was placed under control by the Chief of the 15 Battalion.

At 08:21 hrs FDNY Bronx Box 4439 sounded for the1500 blk of Steenwick Ave reporting fire on the second floor. Engine 63 and Battalion 15 responded and arrived to find smoke showing from a few second floor windows on the second floor. Engine 63's crews helped the first due company get the first line into place, while Battalion 15 BC McSweeney transmitted the All Hands. The fire was quickly extinguished while the trucks opened up and searched. Two lines stretched and operated for fire on the second floor of a two story 20X50 private house. All searches came back negative and the fire was placed under control by the Chief of the 15 Battalion, BC McSweeney.

At 10:38 hrs FDNY Bronx Box 4476 sounded for 1600 blk Tillotson Ave reporting a fire in a private dwelling.  Engine 63 along with Battalion 15 responded 1st due.  While in route to the box, the Bronx advised the 15th Battalion that they were receiving numerous phone calls for fire.  B.C. Cartica quickly requested an extra engine and truck for FDNY Bronx Box 4476.  Engine 38 normally 1st due to that box was out of service.  Engine 63 only a few blocks from the fire scene was advised by the Bronx that E-38 was now back in service and responding.  E-38 arrived seconds before E-63 and transmitted the 10-75 (working fire). Battalion 15 arrived and by orders of Chief Cartica, the all-hands was transmitted.  Engine 38 and Engine 63 both placed hand-lines into service and started the fire attack.  Engine 38 advised that they lost water, at which time BC Cartica asked E-63 to pull out of the fire building and to quickly darken the fire down from the outside.  The large body of fire was knocked down permitting E-38 to continue there advance.  A total of 3 hand-lines were stretched all of which operated.   All searches came back negative and the fire was placed under control by Battalion Chief Cartica, Battalion 15.

 At 05:22 hrs FDNY Bronx box 3651 sounded for the 600 blk of East 219th Street reporting fire in the basement of a private dwelling. Engine 63 responded 2nd due along with Battalion 15. While in route the Bronx advised companies of numerous phone calls and reports of people jumping from upper floors. Battalion 15 arrived and transmitted the All Hands for fire on several floors of a 20X75 private dwelling. Engine 63 arrived and assisted the first due engine with getting the first hand line into operation. Both companies were met with heavy fire conditions in the basement. With such a large body of fire on several floors and extension into exposure 2, Battalion 15 Chief Blatus transmitted the 2nd alarm. A total of 5 hand lines were stretched and operated before the fire was placed under control. All searches came back negative and the fire was placed under control by the Chief of the 15 BattalionBC Blatus.

At 12:07 hrs FDNY Bronx box 3680 was sounded for the 700 blk of East 220th Street reporting smoke coming from the roof. Engine 63 quickly turned out along with Battalion 15. While in route the Bronx advised Engine 63 that they received a second call reporting fire. Engine 63 arrived to find heavy smoke pushing from several windows on the top floor of a vacant 2 story 25X50 frame. A 10-75 (working fire) was transmitted, followed up by the All Hands given by the Chief of the 15 Battalion. The members of Engine 63 quickly stretched a 1 3/4” line and promptly extinguished the fire under the command of Captain Begbie. A total of two lines were stretched and all searches came back negative. Battalion 15 placed the fire under control.

Today firefighters, Head Chef Robert Painter, Chef John Yarusso, and Chef Charlie Anastos competed in the 8th Annual Iron Skillet Cook Off held by the World Cares Center. Each year the World Cares Center selects one fire company from each borrow to compete against some of the best restaurant chefs in NYC. This year Engine 63 was picked to represent the Bronx, and once again the Bronx prevailed! The three man team lead by Head Chef Robert Painter took home the 8th Annual Iron Skillet 1st place with an unbelievable dish and presentation beating out all 4 fire houses and 5 top restaurant chefs. The dish was a Coconut Crusted Sea Bass over a bed of Black Bean, Corn, and Mango Salsa with a Sweet Plantain Compote. We would like to congratulate Engine 63's chefs on a job well done. Also we would like to thank the World Cares Center, Cool Way Ice Creations, Metronome Hospitality Group, and John Sierp for everything they did that night! Photos by Steve White! Please visit the links that are in the full story.

At 03:09 hrs FDNY Bronx phone alarm box 3563 was filled out confirming a working fire in a taxpayer at 3105 Bainbridge Ave. Companies responded and arrived to find heavy fire throughout a 1 story 180'X 100' taxpayer. An aggressive attack was attempted but was unsuccessful due to the large body of fire and a partial collapse of the rear. Multiple lines stretched and operating, 4 tower ladders operating for heavy fire throughout a 1 story 180'X100' taxpayer. All searches came back negative and the fire was finally placed under control about 5 hrs after the initial alarm. The fire was deemed suspicious due to the large body of fire on arrival and was turned over to the fire marshals.

At 18:01 hrs FDNY Bronx phone alarm box 3832 sounded for the 1700 blk of Edenwald Ave reporting a private house on fire. Just as members were in the process of the change of tours the Bronx called us on the voice alarm notifying us of a private house on fire. Engine 63 and Battalion 15 responded, while en-route the Bronx notified us again stating that they were receiving a bunch of calls reporting a fire with people trapped. Upon arrival crews were met with frantic civilians stating that there were people trapped inside. Engine 63's crew stretched a line to the first floor were the main body of fire was located, while the trucks started a quick and thorough search. Battalion 15 transmitted the all hands with and extra engine and truck. Three lines stretched, two lines operated for fire in the basement and first floor of a 2 story 25X50 private house. All searches came back negative and the fire was placed under control by the Chief of the 15 Battalion.

At 13:39hrs FDNY Bronx phone alarm box 3487 sounded for the 2900 blk of Lurting Ave reporting a private house on fire. Engine 63 and Battalion 15 responded, and arrived to find heavy fire from the exposure 3 side. Engine 63's crew stretched a second line to the front, while Battalion 15 transmitted the all hands. First due companies quickly got the first line to the fire, while the trucks opened up and searched. Two lines stretched, one line operated for fire on the first floor of a 2 story 25X50 private house. All searches came back negative and the fire was placed under control by the Chief of the 15 Battalion.