Firefighters flea-ing vermin

NY Daily News ^ | August 7, 2003 | AUSTIN FENNER, JONATHAN LEMIRE and ALICE McQUILLAN With Lisa L. Colangelo

[presidio9]

Brooklyn firehouse's rat patch.

It's a rat race at several city firehouses - not just the one shut down by a plague of rodents in Queens. A rat rampage was so bad at a Sunset Park, Brooklyn, firehouse that the firefighters got fleas last month.

"The whole firehouse had fleas. Guys were scratching all day long, and we sent the blankets out to the laundromat," said Firefighter Mike Triglianos, 37.

The department had to tear up the kitchen to get the rodents out of the walls at 5011 Seventh Ave. - the former home of shuttered Engine 278, now temporarily housing another company.

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said the problem came from a shed in the back that has been destroyed.

At a Flatbush firehouse on Rogers Ave., the Bravest have surrendered to the scampering scourge.

"We don't try to kill them anymore, we co-mingle," said an eight-year veteran at Engine 249, Ladder 113's firehouse - nicknamed "the rat house."

The firefighters have emblazoned their problem on a 3-foot-high black, red and gold neon sign: "Forever Rats Camp Rogers Rats," and they wear patches and T-shirts with a rat logo.

The Uniformed Firefighters Association says mice, rats, roaches and other vermin infest 62 firehouses. Scoppetta acknowledged that 10 houses have a rodent problem. With almost 300 fire department buildings citywide, critters are a fact of life that regular extermination mostly keeps in check, he said.

Both sides agree that no infestation was greater than at Engine 298, Ladder 127 and Battalion 50 in Jamaica, Queens, where firefighters had to be evacuated Monday night. The building will be gutted to remove dead rats from the walls and ceilings.

Scoppetta said the overhaul would run "hundreds of thousands of dollars." Repair crews and exterminators visited there 26 times since January, he said.

Mayor Bloomberg, at an event with actress Whoopi Goldberg yesterday, called the Jamaica firehouse's problem something "we can bring under control."

"Why don't you get some cats?" asked Goldberg.

"Cats?" said the mayor. "I think these are New York rats."

"I know," she replied. "But you need those ninja cats."

[presidio9]

For some reason the Daily News needed four reporters to cover this story...

[StatesEnemy]

For some reason the Daily News needed four reporters to cover this story...

Ya REALLY! I mean the NYT would use only one 'journalist' reporting from a bar cross town.

[Zavien Doombringer]

"Why don't you get some cats?" asked Goldberg.

"Cats?" said the mayor. "I think these are New York rats."

"I know," she replied. "But you need those ninja cats."

She hasn't met the Viking Kitties, has She?

[AppyPappy]

My little puny cat kills rabbits. They can have it.

[Iris7]

I lived in New York City for a couple years in the late '60's. I guess that the period when I was there is seen by New Yorkers as a lost Golden Age.

I don't know what country New York City is in, but it sure isn't America.

[cyborg]

I was just amazed at how Bloomberg sounded so casual about the whole affair.

[strela]

re your shoulder patch - I WANT ONE!

[Zavien Doombringer]

so do I, but it is just an image...created by COnstitution Day

[strela]

So do I, but it is just an image...created by Constitution Day

Hmmm ... that would be so slick to have at my next Freep though.

[Constitution Day]

Hey, I didn't do that!
I can't remember who first posted it. I wish I knew.

[Zavien Doombringer]

Sorry CD, I am mistaken, I thought you created it...

Whos stopping the making of actual cloth patches?...If anyone doesn't object, I do have a local source that can create them.

[Constitution Day]

Dude, it would be just TOO cool to have a Viking Kitty patch. Seriesly!

[strela]

If anyone doesn't object, I do have a local source that can create them.

I seem to recall that the actual creator of the Viking Kittens graphic is rathergood.com - probably best to ask if they will grant permission to do it. (That's the first place I saw it anyway). If you get permission, count me in for several.

[Zavien Doombringer]

I could have the patches done and the cost would be $6, plus shipping and handling. I would need to have dedicated buyers before my source will manufacture them. She does T-Shirts and Polo Shirts too!

[Zavien Doombringer]

I sent a letter to Joel at rathergood.com asking permission to use the VK graphic. I hope the report is favorable.

[Constitution Day]

Cool. Keep me posted!

[jriemer]

Me too!

[strela]

Same here. Again, count me in for at least a half-dozen if this happens.

[Iris7]

Some years back they were digging with a backhoe in the median of 5th Avenue, as I remember, and hit a rat's nest. Thousands and thousands and thousands of rats were running all over the streets, into buildings. The rats kept coming out for maybe ten minutes in a torrent. That's New York City for you.

Matamoros, Mexico, is a more American town.

[coydog]

Forget dalmatians... they should get a pack of terriers instead. They'll deal with the rats, yes they will... ;-)