Fireboat John J. Harvey

Description

We are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, dedicated to the preservation of retired FDNY fireboat John J. Harvey.

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At 130 feet and 268 net tons, she is among the most powerful fireboats ever in service, capable of pumping up to 18,000 gallons of water a minute.

History

She served the FDNY from her launch in 1931 to her retirement in 1994. Among the marine fires at which she assisted were the Cunard Line pier fire in 1932, the burning of the Normandie in 1942, and the ammunition ship El Estero during World War II. She was named for marine fireman John J. Harvey, killed when the Thomas Willet exploded during a fire. She retired as Marine 2.

September 11, 2001

On September 11, 2001, the boat's owners asked FDNY officials for permission to assist in evacuations from Ground Zero. Meanwhile, due to many damaged water mains, fire crews were deprived of water. Officials radioed the Harvey to drop off her passengers as soon as possible and return to the disaster site to pump water, reactivating her official designation Marine 2. Alongside FDNY fireboats Firefighter and John D. McKean, she pumped water at the site for 80 hours, until water mains were restored. The Harvey's story was the subject of a 2002 Maira Kalman book.

MY RIVER CHRONICLES
Rediscovering the Work that Built America
A Personal and Historical Journey
**Winner, 2010 ASJA Outstanding Book Award, Memoir**

by Jessica DuLong

After journalist Jessica DuLong was laid off from her dot-com job, life took an unexpected turn. A volunteer day aboard fireboat John J. Harvey led to a job in the engine room, where she found a taste of home she hadn't realized she was missing.  Buy it Now!  (or read more)