This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von

Episode #637 – FDNY Firefighter (Tony Bonfiglio)

Date: February 4, 2026
Guests: Tony Bonfiglio (retired FDNY firefighter)

Overview

In this heartfelt and captivating episode, Theo Von sits down with retired FDNY firefighter Tony Bonfiglio, who spent 21 years serving New York City—much of it in the neighborhoods of Washington Heights and Queens. Tony shares memories from his youth, his path into the fire service, the brotherhood of the department, stories from the frontlines (including intense rescues, heartbreaking losses, surreal discoveries, and the trauma of 9/11), and reflections on the changes in firefighting over the decades. The conversation is raw and vivid, blending humor and tragedy, and offers an intimate look at a firefighter’s life—on and off duty.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Early Life and Career Before FDNY (01:45–16:49)

• Blue-Collar Upbringing: Tony recalls growing up in New Hyde Park, surrounded by families of cops, bus drivers, and firemen.

  • “I always say that when I d— I hope heaven’s like the 70s, man, because that was so awesome.” (03:45, Tony)

• First Jobs:

  • Worked in a meat factory as a kid (“scraping hangar room floors like Paulie in Rocky”)—learning hard work among tough but quirky characters who worked as butchers, packers, and inspectors.
  • Played pranks, got into trouble, and had his share of teenage mischief—including a brush with law.

• A String of Odd Jobs:

  • Plastic bead/jewelry factory, Food technology studies, mail room job (Theo shares a similar story)—all reinforcing the randomness and camaraderie of pre-career life.
  • Tony’s neighbor Johnny helped steer him towards the fire department by giving him the application: “You’ll never get rich on this job, but it’ll put a roof over your head and food on your table.” (17:05)

Entering the FDNY: Testing, Training, and Breaking In (16:49–27:10)

• Exams and Lawsuits:

  • Huge competition—40,000 applicants for the written and physical tests.
  • An incident during the physical “ledge walk” station nearly ended Tony’s chance (“What am I, Batman?... I got a zero and everything was down the drain.” [20:13])
  • A lawsuit filed by women candidates prevented any hiring for six years; eventually, changes in hiring policies allowed Tony’s lower place (due to the test zero) to be called up.
  • “Rarely does a complaining woman save you, but they saved me that day.” (22:44, Tony)

• Fire Academy & Probation:

  • Tony is assigned to Ladder 34, a truck company in Washington Heights—unexpected for someone who disliked heights.
  • Quick explanation of firehouse structure (“engine” = hoses/water, “truck/ladder” = rescue, breaking in, ventilation).

Firefighting in Washington Heights—War Stories, Brotherhood, and the Streets (27:36–39:10)

• Neighborhoods on the Edge:

  • Washington Heights in the ‘80s: Crime, drugs, and violence (“They took over the drug business because that was the hub… Badass. Shooting all day long.” [27:53])
  • "We had everything—bodegas, a gypsy cab dispatcher, a whorehouse, and a bunch of drug apartments. Busy block." (60:44)

• The First Real Fire (33:14–44:31):

  • Detailed, cinematic play-by-play of Tony’s first building fire: from the “house watch,” being the can-man (“fire extinguisher with a strap and a hook”), and the terror of crawling into a pitch-black smoke-filled hallway.
  • “No way we’re fucking going in there, right?... It was like if there was a gate to hell, this was it.” (36:58, Tony)
  • Gear mishaps—“I go to hit [the fire] and nothing comes out. I didn’t have air in the can. It’s like a total fuck up…” (39:14)
  • The moment of grace from a veteran Lieutenant (“Yeah, don’t worry about it kid. Shit happens.” [43:59])

• Brotherhood and Bonding:

  • Tony shares how quickly camaraderie forms through shared danger, communal meals, and the ups and downs of the job.

Rescue and Tragedy—Fires with People Involved (44:47–55:38)

• Rescue Attempts and Loss:

  • Devastating firsthand stories of responding to calls where lives are on the line, including children—experiencing both heroic saves and the lingering trauma of unsuccessful rescues.
  • On a fatal incident: “We lost this little girl… That one really hurt me a lot… I felt like I killed that kid, you know?” (47:06)
  • On coping: “That stayed with me for years… sometimes I would smell and taste the burnt lips and everything.” (55:27)

• Dealing with Repeated Trauma:

  • “Who do you even talk to about that kind of stuff?... The guys were listening up… I just went in, I took a shower… you get over it, you know, it takes a while, though.” (55:38)

The Street Level—Addiction, Vacant Buildings, and Everyday Danger (56:46–62:38)

• Responding to Repeat Offenders:

  • Firehouse interactions with homeless individuals, arsonists, and those struggling with addiction.
  • “Called three times. We got called to the sixth floor. He kept lighting fires to stay warm… At this point we’re sliding down the poles… We told him, we come back here again, I’m throwing you out that fucking window.” (59:18–59:47)

• Perspective on Society:

  • “Absolutely. Call them skulls. They’re all skells.” (60:44, Tony on how attitudes can harden, though he expresses empathy.)

Surreal and Bizarre Calls—Murder, Drugs, and Temptation (66:45–69:38)

• Discoveries on Duty:

  • Fire in a drug den leads to stacks of drug money: “I’m looking at… stacks of hundreds and $50 bills. Every drawer. No twenties… I could buy myself a new Harley with that money… the devil and the angel on my shoulder…” (68:26)

• Discovery of Drug Room:

  • Finding “half the coke in Manhattan,” and the timeless struggle of temptation, duty, and the unspoken rules among fire crews and police. (69:04–70:51)

Humor, Camaraderie, and “Good Cops, Bad Cops” (115:37–116:51)

• Faking Injuries for Fun:
  • Story about making the cover of a fire magazine following a tough fire; the crew’s inside jokes (“Neck braces on … we had a prop closet at home, you know, canes and braces... That was that. We made the cover. I still have that hanging today.” [116:40])

Life in the Firehouse (75:15–79:36)

• Meals are Sacred:

  • Communal eating, bringing family recipes, and the importance of meal rituals for bonding.
  • “First meal I brought in, my mother made meatballs and sausage and a whole Sunday gravy… But you know what, kid? You gotta make it here next time.” (76:35)

• Traditions vs. Technology:

  • Pushback against “newfangled” equipment and rules; Tony and others preferred old gear, traditions, and the firemen’s unique culture.

9/11—A Firefighter’s Perspective on an Unimaginable Day (79:40–101:15)

• Recalling the Morning:

  • Tony describes the confusion, realization, and emotional breakdown when learning of the towers’ collapse: “I just started crying…I knew how many guys just got killed…” (81:27)

• Going Down to Ground Zero:

  • Racing into Manhattan in the chaos, getting waved onto the LIE by police, and arriving to a nightmarish, apocalyptic scene:
    • “It was quiet, dark, eerie… I heard all the pass alarms going off that, when firemen aren’t moving, makes a screechy noise. And you could hear that all around… we were the only ones there.” (84:25)
  • Wandering through the devastation, finding no survivors, climbing, risking health (“We had to rip up T-shirts to breathe”), and chance encounters with survivors and colleagues in shock.

• Scenes of Unexpected Solidarity:

  • People giving out water, makeshift sandwich stations appear (“To see all these people coming together right at this time, no matter what your race, creed, color…” [88:03–88:19])

• Health Impacts and Lasting Loss:

  • Lingering trauma, exposure to toxic “ground glass” dust (“firefighters losing up to 12 years of lung function” [117:46]), and the collective emotional toll:
    • “343 men we lost that day. It's hard to even get over that number.” (96:15)
  • Later, the experience of recognizing colleagues lost and the overwhelming sadness: “I was devastated… I was still emotional over it.” (106:24)

The Brotherhood, Its Changes, and Reflections (103:05–123:47)

• The Changing Job:

  • More oversight, technology, digital records, and less freedom for “old-school” behavior, but the brotherhood still endures.
  • “Brotherhood… That’s why, you know, I did 15 years in 34 truck from a probie… I had a lot of friends that I’m still [close to] today. The wives, the kids. The kids are on the job.” (74:51)

• Camaraderie with Cops—Boxing and “Battle of the Badges”

  • Tony describes the FDNY boxing club (run by his friend Bobby McGuire), annual charity events, and riotous crowd fights between off-duty police and firemen.

• Firefighter Wives:

  • Appreciation for the partners who kept households running, often emotionally disconnected from the drama and danger.

• Writing His Book:

  • Tony shares about his memoir, Tales from the Tiller, which blends fire stories, humor, tragedy, and firehouse recipes.

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps & Speaker Attribution)

• On the ‘70s:

  “I always say that when I d— I hope heaven’s like the 70s, man, because that was so awesome. Kicked ass.” — Tony (03:45)

• On becoming a firefighter:

  “My neighbor… gives me the application. He says, ‘You'll never get rich on this job, but put a roof over your head and food on your table.’ … Had no idea it was gonna be the biggest career move of my life, dude.” — Tony (17:05)

• First fire, facing fear:

  “If there was a gate to hell, this was it. Black shimmering smoke that looked like satin curtains just going in all different directions. My first thought: no way we're fucking going in there!” — Tony (36:58)

• Brotherhood:

  “Brotherhood. Oh my God. Like family.” — Tony (74:51)

• On losing children:

  “We lost this little girl. That one really hurt me a lot…I felt like I killed that kid, you know?” — Tony (47:06)

• On 9/11:

  “I put my foot on the brake and I just started crying. I was on the steering wheel because I knew how many guys just got killed…” — Tony (81:27) “343 men we lost that day. It's hard to even get over that number…” — Tony (96:15)

• Coping:

  “All I got was some nice hugs and some tears at home.” — Tony (55:38)

• On changes in the department:

  “More technology…more eyes on you, you couldn’t get away with as much.” — Tony (103:07)

• On the importance of food and tradition:

  "First meal I brought in, my mother made meatballs...But you know what, kid? You gotta make it here next time." — Tony (76:35) "I'd put my Louis Prima on the stereo, and we would just be going...The place would be hopping." — Tony (77:14)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• Getting into FDNY, Test/Lawsuit: 16:49–23:57
• Firehouse Life & Brotherhood: 74:51–79:36
• First Firefight—Vivid Description: 33:14–44:31
• Tragic Loss—Child Fatality Story: 46:05–55:38
• 9/11 Response & Ground Zero: 79:53–101:15
• FDNY Boxing Club & Brotherhood Events: 98:25–102:24
• Changing Culture, New Technology: 103:05–103:55
• Writing & Releasing His Book: 123:08–126:21

Memorable Moments

• ‘Angel and Devil on the Shoulder’ Temptation with Drug Money: 68:26–69:38
• Comedic Cover Photo on Fire Magazine—Injuries Staged/Faked: 115:37–116:51
• Food, Camaraderie, “Clam Sauce Casino” Recipe: 123:08–124:05
• Heartbreak Amidst Brotherhood at 9/11 Aftermath: 106:24–107:01

Tone and Atmosphere

The episode balances unfiltered storytelling, gallows humor, and profound pathos—true to both Theo and Tony’s personalities. The conversation is gritty, direct, frequently funny, and laced with compassion for the brotherhood, families, and communities touched by firefighting.

Further Reading / Tony’s Book

• Tales from the Tiller: Tony’s memoir, blending FDNY stories, firehouse camaraderie, and recipes.

Acknowledgment

Thank you to Tony Bonfiglio and his family for sharing their story, and to all firefighters and first responders for their service.