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September 30, 2015
Rescue Operations units engage in the shoring and stabilization of compromised structures on a fairly regular basis. Most often, this activity occurs on the ground floor or a below-grade story. Occasionally, units will operate on an upper floor of a “low-rise” structure. In support of operations […]
September 30, 2015
On Sunday, May 31, 2015, beginning at 1043 hours, 9-1-1 calls began notifying UCT communications dispatchers of a catastrophic event (big bang) on Madison Avenue in midtown Manhattan, between East 38th and 39th Streets. The calls ranged from a building collapse, to a crane collapse, to […]
September 30, 2015
Effectively and quietly moving thousands of people daily throughout New York City, escalators commonly are used in many occupancy types. Yet, surprisingly, escalator incidents and fires are an uncommon response for FDNY members. Note: According to NYFIRS data provided by Captain Thomas Smith, Safety Command, the […]
September 30, 2015
On Wednesday, October 8, 2014, at 2143 hours, units in Queens were dispatched to Box 7474 at 30-14 Steinway Street in the Astoria neighborhood. It came in as a UCT alarm for an odor of gas. While responding, the dispatcher called with additional information, stating there […]
September 30, 2015
Day in and day out, the FDNY responds to numerous calls for an electrical condition or odors. In each case, Firefighters should be formulating their own size-up of the situation that they might encounter when they arrive on-scene. Frequently when responding to an electrical odor in […]
September 30, 2015
In the early-morning hours of January 21, 2015, units responded to Brooklyn Box 1241 for a UCT911 call reporting a fire in a hardware store. The fire went to a fifth alarm for relief purposes and took almost five hours before it was placed Under Control. […]
August 30, 2015
On March 23,1934, the honorable John J. McElligott, Fire Chief and Commissioner, and the Honorable Deputy Fire Commissioner Francis X. Giaccono approved a request made by Captain John Capillo, Engine 28. The request follows: I herewith submit for your approval, a brief to be used by […]
June 30, 2015
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) has responded to countless fires and disasters in its storied 150-year history. Some fires–such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire–have left an indelible mark on the collective consciousness of all Americans and were the inspiration for the reform movement […]
July 27, 2016
The FDNY and the FDNY Foundation are proud to report another successful year of hosting the annual Medical Special Operations Conference (MSOC), which was held at the FDNY’s Fire Academy on Randall’s Island, April 29-May 1. Now in its fourth year, the MSOC has become a […]
July 27, 2016
Early CPR and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) have been shown to dramatically increase the chance of survival in victims who experience sudden cardiac arrest. The first few minutes after a person goes into cardiac arrest are the most critical but, sadly, a […]
July 27, 2016
Feature image caption: The Medical Evacuation Transportation Unit (METU) gets its name from its primarily funded purpose, which is to perform as a mass evacuation vehicle for nursing homes and other medical facilities. The citizens and visitors of New York City call 911 for emergency medical […]
July 27, 2016
On a summer day, I was performing my routine field duties as a Deputy Chief, assigned to Car 521, and covering major incident response. While on duty, I was consulted via cell phone by Lieutenant Robert Walsh, who was operating as field supervisor, Unit C10. Lieutenant […]
July 27, 2016
Acting while off-duty is not mandated by the Fire Department of the City of New York, but often, FDNY members step in and help when needed. Case in point, two of our EMTs–Shaun Alexander and Khadijah Hall–both with more than two decades on the job, stepped […]
July 27, 2016
In New York City, EMS responds to numerous building fires each year. Many of these fires produce patients who require pre-hospital care. These patients include both civilians and first responders. They can sustain injuries that range anywhere from minor musculoskeletal trauma to cardiac arrest. A large […]
July 27, 2016
Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of articles that will be devoted to active shooter threats. Responding to and mitigating an active shooter (AS) event will challenge the first responder. Such an incident presents a new level of threat and requires a combination […]
July 27, 2016
The day was bright and sunny, with the temperature reaching 77 degrees Fahrenheit. It was a perfect day to be outdoors. But for FDNY ALS unit 23V (two-three Victor), it was just another day on the bus for Paramedics Desiree Corsello and Carmen Rosas. There was […]