Dozens of experienced leaders were killed on Sept. 11, along with the core of many firehouses and special units.
On his 100th birthday, he was invited to a special firehouse breakfast, where he regaled the firefighters with tales of yore.
A compromise was eventually reached and under the new ordinance, liquor can still be served at the firehouses, but only at special events and fund-raisers, like the Paugassett Company's monthly "porketta" dinners or nearby Hotchkiss Hose Company's "Past-Captain's Night".
This month, even Firefighter Hear, the most senior member of Ladder 43 and a firefighter since 1969, left the firehouse for an assignment in Special Operations, the group that includes the elite units, which lost 94 men on Sept. 11.
That makes St . Patricks a building of special interest to firehouses in the area - like Engine Company 54 and Ladder Company 4 - that would be the first to respond in case of disaster.
Officials said Mr. Scoppetta signaled the crackdown on drinking by issuing a special order to all firehouses laying out the powers of department investigators and sternly reminding firefighters that they are required to cooperate during inspections.
The Fire Department, for instance, will need to cut about $28 million from its budget, although the obvious way to save money -- closing firehouses -- is off the table for now as a special panel examines which houses are duplicative.
"When we have a special event, we serve alcohol in the hall of the firehouse, but we have eight or nine guys that are designated firefighters" and don't drink.
Though no more than a handful of residents have turned up for the monthly town meetings in the back of the firehouse in years, the two dozen folding chairs filled early for Wednesday's special session.
They received special permission to have the ceremony at the Engine 7, Ladder 1 firehouse in Lower Manhattan.
