Latest

December 1, 2014

Manhattan Gas Explosion/Collapse Dictate Lengthy FDNY Operation

Then-Deputy Assistant Chief James E. Leonard, Brooklyn Borough Commander, was the City-wide Command Chief when Manhattan Box 55-1406 was transmitted on Wednesday, March 12, 2014. On arrival, he was met with an extremely serious situation. The Command Post had not been established yet. Chief Leonard contacted then-Deputy Chief Anthony De Vita, Division 3, via handie-talkie […]

September 30, 2014

The FDNY Honor Legion

In 2005, I received a letter from Battalion Chief Philip Gaetani, who was president of the Honor Legion at the time, about joining this FDNY organization. Most members are familiar with the FDNY fraternal organizations, but I had never heard of the Honor Legion. Like most Firefighters, I went to work and inquired about the […]

September 30, 2014

FDNY and FDNY Foundation Host Second Annual Medical Special Operations Conference (MSOC)

The FDNY, in partnership with the FDNY Foundation, hosted the second annual Medical Special Operations Conference (MSOC), May 16-18, 2014. The weekend-long conference served as a platform for medical personnel from around the world who provide patient care under disaster and urban search and rescue conditions, with a primary objective to allow military, federal, state […]

September 1, 2014

Safety First: Importance of Rehabilitation

In 2013, there were 97 on-duty Firefighter deaths, including 19 wildland Firefighters at the Yarnell Hill fire and nine Firefighter fatalities at the fertilizer plant explosion in Texas. In just these two major incidents, the country lost 28 Firefighters. However, notwithstanding the wildland fire and Texas explosion, sudden cardiac death continues to claim a major […]

September 1, 2014

Tricks of the Trade: Window Bars, Part 1 by Captain Michael Doda and Lt. Thomas M. Carrera

There are several ways for the “outside team” to remove standard window bars from a fire building. Standard window bars are best described as solid stock bars–usually iron– mounted to cover a window. They most likely are fastened to the window frame or brickwork on the outside of the building. A ladder company may have […]

September 1, 2014

Smart Venting Using the SA Cycle

Everybody goes! Phone alarm. Residential. First-due engine. First-due truck. Address is 123 Main Street…Male caller states fire on second floor…Multiple dwelling…Three and two on the Box! As members hear the housewatch shout out the ticket, they start their size-up. Going through their mental Rolodex, they think of all the buildings on that block, creating a […]

September 1, 2014

Trident Multi-Point Exit Lock

As security concerns over the years have increased, so have the various methods and devices used to secure buildings and property. Firefighters have become accustomed to seeing drop bars, Fox locks, multiple dead bolts and slide locks on the doors of taxpayers and other buildings. These devices pose a significant safety risk to Firefighters and […]

September 1, 2014

Bronx Hunts Point Market Four-Alarm Fire No Match for FDNY Members: The Command Channel

As an operation progresses and Sectors/Groups and/or Branches have been assigned, it is incumbent upon the Incident Commander (IC) to establish a Command Channel to effectively implement strategy, coordinate supervision and facilitate better control of the overall operation. Implementation of a Command Channel shall be established under the following conditions: Third alarm or greater Signals […]

December 1, 2014

Manhattan Gas Explosion/Collapse Dictate Lengthy FDNY Operation

Then-Deputy Assistant Chief James E. Leonard, Brooklyn Borough Commander, was the City-wide Command Chief when Manhattan Box 55-1406 was transmitted on Wednesday, March 12, 2014. On arrival, he was met with an extremely serious situation. The Command Post had not been established yet. Chief Leonard contacted then-Deputy Chief Anthony De Vita, Division 3, via handie-talkie […]

September 30, 2014

The FDNY Honor Legion

In 2005, I received a letter from Battalion Chief Philip Gaetani, who was president of the Honor Legion at the time, about joining this FDNY organization. Most members are familiar with the FDNY fraternal organizations, but I had never heard of the Honor Legion. Like most Firefighters, I went to work and inquired about the […]

September 30, 2014

FDNY and FDNY Foundation Host Second Annual Medical Special Operations Conference (MSOC)

The FDNY, in partnership with the FDNY Foundation, hosted the second annual Medical Special Operations Conference (MSOC), May 16-18, 2014. The weekend-long conference served as a platform for medical personnel from around the world who provide patient care under disaster and urban search and rescue conditions, with a primary objective to allow military, federal, state […]

September 1, 2014

Safety First: Importance of Rehabilitation

In 2013, there were 97 on-duty Firefighter deaths, including 19 wildland Firefighters at the Yarnell Hill fire and nine Firefighter fatalities at the fertilizer plant explosion in Texas. In just these two major incidents, the country lost 28 Firefighters. However, notwithstanding the wildland fire and Texas explosion, sudden cardiac death continues to claim a major […]

September 1, 2014

Tricks of the Trade: Window Bars, Part 1 by Captain Michael Doda and Lt. Thomas M. Carrera

There are several ways for the “outside team” to remove standard window bars from a fire building. Standard window bars are best described as solid stock bars–usually iron– mounted to cover a window. They most likely are fastened to the window frame or brickwork on the outside of the building. A ladder company may have […]

September 1, 2014

Smart Venting Using the SA Cycle

Everybody goes! Phone alarm. Residential. First-due engine. First-due truck. Address is 123 Main Street…Male caller states fire on second floor…Multiple dwelling…Three and two on the Box! As members hear the housewatch shout out the ticket, they start their size-up. Going through their mental Rolodex, they think of all the buildings on that block, creating a […]

September 1, 2014

Trident Multi-Point Exit Lock

As security concerns over the years have increased, so have the various methods and devices used to secure buildings and property. Firefighters have become accustomed to seeing drop bars, Fox locks, multiple dead bolts and slide locks on the doors of taxpayers and other buildings. These devices pose a significant safety risk to Firefighters and […]

September 1, 2014

Bronx Hunts Point Market Four-Alarm Fire No Match for FDNY Members: The Command Channel

As an operation progresses and Sectors/Groups and/or Branches have been assigned, it is incumbent upon the Incident Commander (IC) to establish a Command Channel to effectively implement strategy, coordinate supervision and facilitate better control of the overall operation. Implementation of a Command Channel shall be established under the following conditions: Third alarm or greater Signals […]