Ladder Co. 159 on East 48th Street near Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn has been called the “Friendly Firehouse” since at least the late 1990s, when a yellow smiley face was painted on the firehouse door. In 2018, however, the “Friendly Firehouse” was investigated over alleged incidents of hazing, bullying, threats and sexual misconduct.
   
   
24 June 1999, Newsday (Long Island, NY), “Years Later, Still a Pioneer” by Dennis Duggan, pg. A8:
She has worked for the past five years at Ladder Co. 159 on East 48th Street near Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn - known as the “friendly firehouse,” with its big yellow smiling face painted on the front door.
 
The city Department of Investigation has taken over a probe into a Muslim firefighter’s claims that he was bullied and harassed at his Brooklyn firehouse, The Post has learned.
         
Brooklyn Ramblings
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
The Friendly Firehouse of Flatbush
The Friendly Firehouse: Engine company 309, Ladder 159
This firehouse out on Flatbush and East 48th Street, serving the Flatlands neighborhood, bills itself as the Friendly Firehouse. You can see a 1997 photo here from before the smiley face was painted on the door, along with a lot of tough trucks. And here’s a smiley face flag they’ve got hanging inside (photo by firefighter Vincent Sammarco).
Posted by S Shield at 9:14 AM
 
Daily News (New York, NY)
FDNY investigating possible sexual misconduct, hazing at Brooklyn’s ‘friendly firehouse’
By GINGER ADAMS OTIS and THOMAS TRACY
JAN 04, 2018 | 9:45 PM
A Brooklyn fire station nicknamed “the friendly firehouse” is being investigated for being a hotbed of hazing, bullying, threats and sexual misconduct, the Daily News has learned.
 
FDNY Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro cleared out the embattled firehouse — where a gigantic smiley face is emblazoned on the door — last week, transferring six fire officers and two firefighters from Engine 309/Ladder 159 on E. 48th St. in Flatlands, sources with knowledge of the allegations said.
   
New York (NY) Post
Department of Investigation probing Muslim firefighter’s bullying claims
By Dean Balsamini and Susan Edelman
March 3, 2018 | 10:12pm | Updated
The fate of at least two captains, four lieutenants and two firefighters at Engine 309/Ladder 159 in Flatlands remains under a cloud due to the allegations. All have been transferred.
(...)
For Hassan, the station, dubbed “The Friendly Firehouse,” became a house of horrors, where firefighters created a “toxic environment,” the source said.