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History of Engineer John D. McKean
John D. McKean served as a Marine Engineer in the New York City Fire Department and was assigned to the Fireboat George B. McClellan. He was burned by a live steam explosion aboard the McClellan on September 17, 1953. Although fatally injured, McKean heroically remained at his post, vainly trying to keep the vessel under control. As a result of the broken steam line, the McClellan was disabled. Distress signals were sounded on its whistle, while a radio call for an ambulance was sent. The tug Julia Moran, nearby in the Upper Bay, took the McClellan in tow and towed it to its base at Pier 6, Staten Island. An ambulance then took McKean to U.S. Public Health Service Hospital. John D. McKean died there five days later, September 22, 1953. A new fireboat had already been ordered. When it was ready, a year after John had died, John D. McKean's name was on the top of the list would grace this new fireboat. Fire Commissioner Edward Cavanaugh invited the McKean family to attend the christening. The christening took place on March 19th 1954, at the Mathis ship yard in Camden, New Jersey. The wife of Mayor Robert Wager had the honor of swinging the champagne bottle. Commissioner Cavanaugh and the McKean family again would gather to watch the new Fireboat, John D. McKean sail into New York harbor on September 9th, 1954, over 50 years ago. John D. McKean was 45 years old. He was survived by his wife Catherine and two children, John D. Jr, 14, and Marilyn, 11, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. David McKean, and his sister and brother. McKean lived most of his life in Bay Ridge Brooklyn. He was a member of the Fire Department for 15 years. He was appointed on January 1, 1938 and assigned to Ladder 148. John D. McKean's son and grandson followed there fathers footsteps and joined the New York City Fire Department. His great grandson is a member today.
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The John D. McKean(Marine 1)
Built in 1954 by John H. Mathis, Camden, NJ, for $1,426,000. The McKean is 334.75 gross tons. Her length is 129 feet, the beam is 31 feet, the draft is 9 and a half feet, the height above water including the tower is 47 and a half feet. She is propelled by two 1,000 HP Enterprise direct reversible diesel engines that provide a speed of 16 MPH. Two more 1,000 HP Enterprise engines drive four centrifugal pumps, with an output of 14,000 GPM. Also, in the engine room are hundreds of valves, thousands of feet of piping, air compressors, generators, a heat exchanger, a high pressure oil burner, steering motors and a workshop for constant maintenance.
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The two Engineers and the Wiper are able to ready the boat for response in about a minute and a half. The 1,000 horsepower, turbo-charged propulsion engines and pumping engines are kept hot by the high pressure steam boiler, so there is no warm up time. As soon as the engines are started and the 50- kilowatt generator is put on line, we are ready to respond to an alarm. The Generator provides the ships electrical power for lights, radios and navigational electronics. The McKean holds 7,000 gallons of fuel oil, enough to operate for almost five days without refueling.
Up on the main deck, the McKean has a 5 inch Bow Pipe (7,500 GPM) and two manifolds (one forward and one aft), each with eight 3 and a half inch outlets, four hose reels (two for 3 and a half inch hose, one for 2 and a half inch hose and one for 1 and three quarter inch hose). On the aft deck there is 1,000 gallons of foam in 50 gallon drums. The forward compartment is known as the Gold Room. It stores hose fittings, nozzles, adapters, firematic tools, chain saw, partner saw, cold weather and dry suits. The locker room is just aft of the fidley. It has bunker gear, dewatering pumps (both electric and gas), first responder equipment and an oxygen/acetylene cutting torch. The aft room or foam room has a variety of foam nozzles and pick up tubes, a spare outboard motor, emergency lights, portable generator, Scott air tanks and a supply of spare Scott cylinders.
The boat deck has an electric/hyd davit to launch the 13 inch inch Boston Whaler equipped with a 40 horsepower motor. The two monitors on this deck can deliver 3,000 GPM. In the Pilot house, besides all of the navigation equipment, we have a special emergency 45 watt communication radio, thermal imaging camera and a radiation detection meter.
The next deck is over the Pilot house and has two more 3,000 GPM monitors and a high power spot light. The last of the six monitors sits up on the tower (47 feet above the water).
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