My Turn On The Fire Lines

THIS BOOK DESCRIBES THE TRIALS OF PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTER RICHARD A MEO FROM HIS TRAINING AT THE NEW YORK CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT FIREFIGHTING SCHOOL AT RANDALL’S ISLAND, THROUGH HIS ASSIGNMENTS AS A FIREFIGHTER, LIEUTENANT AND CAPTAIN. THE EVENTS ARE CHRONICLED FROM 1980 TO 2003, AND INCLUDE THE 1981 WEST SIDE PIER FIRE, THE GRAND CENTRAL STATION FIRE, GRAMERCY PARK STEAM EXPLOSION, THE BANKERS TRUST FIRE ON PARK AVENUE AND 9/11. THE AUTHOR WAS A FIREFIGHTER IN ENGINE-14 AT UNION SQUARE, AND IN LADDER-3 IN THE EAST VILLAGE. HE WAS A LIEUTENANT IN ENGINE-54 IN THE THEATER DISTRICT AND IN LADDER -36 IN INWOOD/WASHINGTON HEIGHTS. UPON HIS PROMOTION TO CAPTAIN, RICHARD TAUGHT AT THE FIRE ACADEMY AND IN THE FIELD. AFTER 15 MONTHS, HE RETURNED TO THE FIELD, AND SKIPPERED ENGINE -34 BASED IN HELLS KITCHEN. CAPT MEO WAS ASSIGNED THERE FROM 1999 UNTIL RETIRING IN FEB.2003. ALL OF THE EVENTS, AND PERSONAL STORIES ARE TRUE. THE AUTHOR COMPILED THE DESCRIPTIONS FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCES, FIREHOUSE CONVERSATIONS, FIRE GROUND CRITIQUES AND POST FIRE INTERVIEWS.

RICHARD GRADUATED FROM CATSKILL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN 1975, AND WAS NOMINATED TO THE U.S.NAVAL ACADEMY. HE WAS ALSO ACCEPTED INTO THE USMC PLATOON LEADERS CLASS, IN THE HOPE OF BECOMING A PILOT. IN 1979 HE GRADUATED CUM LAUDE FROM OSWEGO COLLEGE WITH A B.A. IN BIOLOGY. RICHARD WAS APPOINTED INTO THE FDNY IN NOV. 1980, AND ALSO ATTENDED JOHN JAY COLLEGE FROM 1982-1984 IN THE FIRE SCIENCE PROGRAM. HE WAS PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT IN AUGUST 1990, AND TO CAPTAIN IN JANUARY 1998. IN HIS FIRST 15 MONTHS AT THIS RANK, RICHARD WAS THE DRILL CAPTAIN FOR DIVISION 1, AND THEN DIVISION-3. HE ALSO TAUGHT CLASSES ON SEARCH, ROOF OPERATIONS AND FORCIBLE ENTRY AT THE FIRE ACADEMY. IN 2003, HE RETIRED FROM THE FDNY, (LIKE ALMOST 2000 OTHERS), IN THE FALLOUT FROM 9/11. RESIDING IN FLORIDA, HE IS THE PRESIDENT OF A PAINTING AND DECORATING COMPANY.