Overview of #637 - FDNY Firefighter (Theo Von)
Theo interviews Tony Bonfiglio, a retired FDNY firefighter with 21 years on the job who served primarily in Washington Heights and Queens. Tony recounts his path into the department, hard-earned street-level training, vivid first-hand fireground stories (including traumatic rescues and losses), his experience at Ground Zero on 9/11, changes in the department over time, and the deep camaraderie and culture inside a New York City firehouse. The episode mixes gritty frontline recollections with lighter firehouse life (meals, cooking, pranks) and ends with Tony promoting his memoir.
Guest background & credentials
- Tony Bonfiglio — retired FDNY firefighter, 21 years of service.
- Served on Ladder/Truck companies (forcible entry, rooftop/ventilation, searches/rescues).
- Stationed in Washington Heights (161st St / Amsterdam) — a busy, high‑call neighborhood during his tenure.
- Author of Tales from the Tiller (memoir of FDNY life, recipes included).
Key topics and highlights
- Early life and jobs:
- Grew up near East Harlem/New Hyde Park; worked in meat packing, plastics, printing unions before FDNY.
- Took the FDNY written and physical tests at ~19; physical tests (ledgewalk, 1-mile run, 8-foot wall) were decisive.
- Was placed low on the hire list due to a six‑year hiring delay related to Brenda Berkman’s successful 1982 sex‑discrimination lawsuit opening FDNY to women.
- Firehouse culture and traditions:
- Strong brotherhood; big communal meals (probie meals with lobsters/filet), cooking as part of identity.
- Old-school gear vs new bunker gear; culture resisted some changes (chin straps, heavier helmets, mandatory hoods).
- Practical shortages: crews often buy their own equipment and supplies; many traditions still persist.
- Typical calls and tactics:
- Truck company roles (search, ventilation, forcible entry) vs engine company (water/hose).
- Probationary duties: “can man” (carry extinguisher/can), irons man (axe), forcible entry team.
- Situations: occupied fires, vacant buildings, arson, gas leaks, car fires, drug apartments, and rescues.
- Memorable and traumatic incidents:
- First serious apartment fire: crawling in black smoke as a proby; can extinguishers failing (air not charged) and the chaos of hose/line operations.
- Fires involving victims — the episode includes emotional accounts of a child who didn’t survive and other casualties that haunted Tony.
- Vacant building and addiction-related fires (e.g., repeat fires lit by a kid to stay warm) — human cost and addiction’s tragedy.
- Drug apartment with dresser drawers full of cash and a locked room stacked with bricks of cocaine — PD involvement.
- 9/11 Ground Zero:
- Tony arrived on the pile the day the towers fell (worked through rubble from ~11:30am to evening). Description of ash/cloud, dark choking conditions, smashed storefronts used to gather gear, building 7 burning floor‑to‑floor.
- Human toll: shock, dead colleagues, chaotic search and rescue; long-term health consequences for responders.
- Health outcomes: many responders developed respiratory disease (“World Trade Center lung” / ground‑glass changes on CT); Tony describes loss of colleagues and ongoing breathing problems among friends.
- Changes in the FDNY over time:
- Increased technology, accountability, cameras, and public scrutiny.
- More formalized gear and safety standards (bunker pants, hoods) after equipment shortages and fatalities.
- Shift in recruit demographics (college grads, more women/minorities compared to Vietnam‑era vets).
- Other culture notes:
- FDNY boxing tradition (raises money for charities like Tunnels to Towers).
- Food and morale (Tony is known for cooking; his memoir includes recipes).
- Humor and resilience alongside trauma.
Main takeaways
- The job blends extreme danger and deep purpose: fires are terrifying, but the camaraderie and sense of being alive keep firefighters committed.
- Training and physical testing are tough gatekeepers, but hiring policies and lawsuits shaped class entry (Brenda Berkman’s lawsuit had a direct, long delay effect).
- 9/11 remains a formative, traumatic event: responders were exposed to toxic dust and debris; many developed chronic illness afterward.
- Firehouse culture (food, rituals, banter) is central to team cohesion and coping.
- Technology and public transparency have changed firefighter work and oversight dramatically—both positives (safety) and new pressures (public scrutiny/cameras).
Notable quotes & moments
- On the heat and physical toll of firefighting: “When you take off your turnout coat and your gear, it's like you fell in a pool.”
- On joining FDNY thanks to a neighbor: “Johnny saved my life… ‘You'll never get rich on this job, but it'll put a roof over your head and food on your table.’”
- On his first real apartment fire: “I was on my hands and knees… I said, ‘What the fuck am I doing here? This is fucking crazy.’”
- On 9/11 arrival: “When we got out of the car, we couldn't breathe. So we had to rip up t-shirts and put them around our faces.”
- On long-term impact: “A lot of guys got cancer. A lot of guys died after the Trade Center.”
Recommended actions & resources
- Read Tony’s memoir: Tales from the Tiller — contains extended stories and firehouse recipes (recommended for listeners who want more firsthand accounts).
- Support responder charities: Tunnels to Towers and other first‑responder support organizations (episode references FDNY fundraising/boxing ties to charity).
- If you’re affected by workplace trauma or mental health stress: consider therapy (podcast sponsor noted BetterHelp; seek local licensed providers).
- Be cautious with online 9/11/first‑responder claims and AI‑generated media — verify whistleblower or eyewitness claims through multiple credible sources.
Sponsors & links mentioned in episode
- Theo’s merch: theovonstore.com (Year of the Rat hoodies, winter sale).
- Episode sponsors included PrizePicks, BlueChew Gold, and BetterHelp (ads and promo codes featured in the episode).
- Tony’s book: Tales from the Tiller (memoir with stories and recipes).
Why this episode matters
- Firsthand oral histories from veteran first responders preserve essential context on everyday firefighting, systemic changes in public safety, and the human costs of catastrophic events like 9/11. Tony’s blend of grit, humor, food culture, and vulnerability gives listeners a textured, personal view behind the headlines.
If you want a one‑line TL;DR: raw, human stories from a 21‑year FDNY veteran — from gritty first fires to the trauma and brotherhood of 9/11 — plus a look at how the job, gear, and culture evolved over decades.