In recognition of June as National Safety Month, we would like to share a selection from the archival collection of firefighter John McCoy (1932-2017). McCoy served in the Dubuque Fire Department for 32 years, retiring at the rank of Captain. His collection includes materials related to his career at the Dubuque Fire Department.
Today, we want to share photographs – a sequence showing the Captain gearing up in PPE (personal protective equipment) for his last day at the Engine House #4 before retirement in 1992. McCoy starts the series by donning his flame-resistant bunker pants and steel-toed boots. The so-called bunker gear gained its name from storage beside firefighters’ bunks. The same year that McCoy retired, the National Fire Protection Association established the NFPA 1500 standard that banned this practice due to exposure of contaminants from gear to living quarters in a station.
Once dressed, McCoy opens the firepole hatch doors, which protect against an accidental fall down the opening. He verifies the landing area is clear and slides down the pole to the apparatus floor, where the vehicles are parked. Grabbing his turnout gear hanging on the wall nearby, he puts on his coat and helmet. The helmet consists of a high, padded dome to absorb shock and a brim to deflect debris. All the gear is a saturated yellow with reflective striping to maximize visibility in chaotic environments. The Captain finishes up, poses for his photo beside the engine, jumps onto Truck #2, and moves out for his last call.
This collection was given to the museum in memory of John “Hucker” McCoy by his colleagues at the Dubuque Fire Department in 2018.