THE LEGEND OF MOE
Guys known by one name are usually pretty scary characters. Igor, Hitler, and Dracula are people you don’t want to bump into on a dark foggy night. The Detroit Fire department had its own boogieman. They called him Moe. Folklore tells us Moe was once a happy productive citizen raising a family in the city of Detroit. One night Moe fell asleep on the couch. He was awakened by screams for help from his wife and four children who were in the upstairs bedrooms. Some how a fire had started and Moe’s family was trapped. They needed help to escape. Moe called the fire department. The fire grew in intensity as Moe waited for help. The screams grew louder and Moe finally made an attempt to run through the flames to save his wife and kids. When Firefighters arrived the house was a roaring inferno. They were able to drag Moe out. He was unconscious and horribly burned. Moe’s family perished in the flames.
Moe survived. He was disfigured by his burns. His life was in shambles. He blamed the Fire Department for not arriving in time to save his family. He swore vengeance and began to act on his vows of retribution. The attacks on Firemen began shortly after Moe was released from the hospital. Moe would roam the city looking for a fire house that had left the doors unlocked after the Firefighters had gone to sleep in the upstairs dormitory. Moe would attack the man on watch who was alone at his post near the watch desk. The attacks were swift and brutal. The weapon of choice was a club with a nail driven through it. Moe was never caught. Over the years many men on watch were severely beaten. Moe even beat the hell out of a few fire house dogs. Over the decades the attacks lessened but the threat was always there.
This was the legend of Moe. Almost every trial Firefighter who was to stand his first night watch was told this story. Department veterans relished telling the story during the day to instill a tinge of fear into a new member of the Department. Before turning in for the night the rookie Firefighter would be given a huge baseball bat to defend himself in case Moe decided to make a visit. Each member would wish the kid good luck as they went upstairs for the night. A favorite trick was to hang a small bolt on a string from the upstairs window. When any member in the dorm went to the bathroom he would pull the string making it knock on the window near the watch desk. In the morning the discussion around the kitchen table would center on a red eyed trial man telling his story about how Moe was on the prowl during the night. It was a terrifying experience for a new man and a tale that brought belly laughs from the veteran Firefighters. It was a rite of passage for many of us. Was there really a Moe? Who knows? The legend lives to this day.
Anyone who has a good Moe story is invited to share it on this site. I am curious if other Departments have a Moe.
"Fire Talk" Archives
- Benny the Hook
- Got To Love Texas
- The Fog of Retirement
- Two Tough Kids
- On Leaving the Department
- Cop Talk 3, Ceremony
- Putting it on the Line
- A Bond of Love
- God Will Protect Us
- Stealing Fires
- Poo Poo Pants
- Decoy Carver
- Firefighter's Road Trip
- Day Twenty-seven. Road Trip
- Down Mexico Way
- Zoo in the 7th
- A Gentle Landing
- Always a Firefighter
- Christmas at the Firehouse
- Harem Sacrum
- The Crow Who Spoke Polish
- Once a Firefighter always a Firefighter
- A Brotherhood
- Retiring a Hall of Fame Firefighter
- Anatomy of Forcible Entry
- 911
- Old Horses
- The Milk Wagon
- The Howling
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 26, Destructo
- Memories of the 7th Battalion
- Running Mates
- Engine 32
- Last Alarm
- Tiger Stadium Fire
- To Moosenee and Back
- Memorial Day 2009
- Anatomy of a Fire at a Dangerous Building
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 25, A Typical 7th Battalion Fire
- Boris the Talking Dog
- Wear and Tear
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 24, Legends
- Axemen
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 23, Ankie
- Anatomy of a Dwelling Fire
- A Firefighter's Spring
- Input
- My Running Mate
- The Singing Fireman
- The Right Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 22, A Desperate Rescue
- 300 Spartans
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 21, Men Who Fight Bears
- At the End of His Rope
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 20, Wolf Warriors
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 19, Motorcycle Maniac
- Career Ending Injuries
- Detroit Loses One of Its Finest
- On Duty Injuries
- Unpractical Jokes
- Dedication in the Fire Service
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 18, Spare Parts
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 17, Passage to Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 16, Gallant Warrior
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 15, Big Ones
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 14, Chicago Lil
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 13, Bridge Fires
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 12, Hot Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 11, Taco Wars
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 10, Day in Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 9, Engine House Cat
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 8, Finding a Pen
- The Polish Squad
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 7, Wayne Soap
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 6, Junk Yard Goat
- The 1967 Riot in Detroit 3
- Department Legends
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 5, The Fonz
- The 1967 Riot (an entry from Tom Hart)
- The 1967 Detroit Riot
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 4, Howard
- The Buhl Building Fire
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 3, Engine 27
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 2, Roof Rescue
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 1, Explosion
- The worst 7th Battalion Fire
- Fire Incidents
- Beeler's Fog Monster
- Thoughts of a Retired Firefighter
- Dogs of the Realm
- Going to the Dogs
- Firefighter/Lawyer ?
- Moe Tales
- The Legend of Moe
- A POEM: When Brave Men Cry