Formed in 1898 as No 2 Engine
Originally located in the Morrisania section of the Bronx at St. Ann’s Avenue and 140th Street, the company has been headquartered twice at No. 1104 Boynton Avenue, and is currently located at No. 1114 Boynton Avenue. The company operated out of a three-bay firehouse until the current four-bay house was completed in 2001.
The company’s first apparatus was a hand-pumped steamer and hose wagon drawn by horses, which was housed in a building on East 144th Street. In 1911, the steam engine was replaced with a gasoline-powered engine, and the company became known as Engine Company 79. In 1919, the company was relocated to its current location on Boynton Avenue.
Engine 79 was one of the first companies to respond to the 1977 blackout. The company fought several fires during the blackout and was also involved in looting prevention efforts. In 2001, Engine 79 was one of the first companies to respond to the September 11 terrorist attacks. The company worked at the World Trade Center site for several days, and its members were awarded the Medal of Valor.
Engine 79 is a busy company that responds to a variety of calls, including fires, medical emergencies, and car accidents. The company is staffed with four firefighters and a lieutenant. The company’s apparatus includes an engine, a ladder truck, and a rescue truck.
In November 2018, Engine 79 was featured on the popular television show “Live PD.” The episode showed the company responding to a call for a fire in a Bronx apartment building. The company’s members were able to rescue a woman from the burning building.
