2014

January 24, 2023

S08, E86 Leading New York’s Bravest with FDNY Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh

History was made as New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the appointment, and swore in, Laura Kavanagh as Commissioner of the New York City Fire Department. Commissioner Kavanagh is the 34th commissioner to lead the Department—and the first woman. In her role, she oversees the […]
December 2, 2022

S07, E84 Fighting High Rise Transformer Fires with FDNY Battalion Chief Anthony Pascocello

The heavy demand on electrical usage in high rise buildings warrants the need for high voltage equipment. That is why it’s so important to understand the dangers of this equipment and how units can safely operate at fires involving transformer vault rooms. In this episode, Battalion […]
October 26, 2022

S07, E83 First FDNY EMT to Contract AIDS on Duty Remembered 25 Years Later

2022 marks the 25thanniversary of the untimely death of FDNY EMT Tracy Allen Lee who was the first EMT to contract HIV on duty in the city—and in the country. Allen Lee dedicated her life to caring for others but spent the years leading up to […]
September 27, 2022

S07, E82 Miraculous Survival of 9/11 with FDNY Deputy Chief John “Jay” Jonas (Retired)

As the attacks on the World Trade Center were carried out, most people viewed the collapses from the outside in. However, on September 11, 2001, then-Captain John “Jay” Jonas and five of his firefighters from Ladder Co. 6 were descending Stairwell B with injured civilian, Josephine […]
August 30, 2022

S07, E81 Multiple Rescues at Lithium-ion Battery Fire with FDNY Lieutenant Patrick Twomey, Firefighter Robert Rivera and Firefighter James Soutar, Ladder 41

Ladder Company 41 arrived first on-scene to fire and smoke pushing out the windows of a seven-story, fireproof multiple dwelling in the Bronx. Lieutenant Patrick Twomey, Firefighter Rob Rivera and Firefighter James Soutar discuss this challenging operation, which involved scaffolding surrounding the building and an aggressive […]
July 20, 2022

S07, E80 Treating Trapped Patients at a Building Collapse with FDNY Rescue Paramedics Lt. Paul Ardizzone, Hugh Smith and Shewain George

On July 30, 2021, Rescue Paramedics Hugh Smith and Shewain George were presented with a challenge that would test their many years of training and experience. The rescue medics arrived on scene of a building collapse to find FDNY Special Operations Units operating to rescue two […]
June 29, 2022

S07, E79 Spotlight on Roof Operations with FDNY Firefighter Philip Gordon

At the FDNY, the roof position can be both physically and mentally demanding. The assignments are largely autonomous, but can drastically improve operating conditions for other members and survivability for civilians, while failure can result in punishing–if not devastating–consequences for all. In this episode of the […]
May 20, 2022

S07, E78 Rising to the Challenge in Emergency Medical Dispatch with FDNY EMT Menhaz Bhuiyan

Each year, during the month of May, we honor EMTs, paramedics and the entire EMS workforce for their dedication, service and sacrifice. The theme for National EMS Week this year is “Rising to the Challenge,” and our guest in this episode certainly did just that. EMT […]
April 18, 2022

S07, E77 Recollections of Daring Rescue Operations with Retired FDNY Lieutenant Kevin Shea

Retired FDNY Lieutenant Kevin Shea was involved in one of the most daring roof rope rescues in FDNY history. On May 14, 1991, FDNY firefighters conducted two technical roof rope rescues at the same fire in Midtown Manhattan, hanging 12 stories above the crowded New York […]
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 […]

September 1, 2014

Bronx Hunts Point Market Four-Alarm Fire No Match for FDNY Members

The 9×6 day tour in Bronx Battalion 3 started out rather uneventfully on November 20, 2013. The weather was seasonable and clear, with air temperatures in the low 40s and wind gusts in the 10- to 15-mph range. In this week before Thanksgiving, all signs indicated this day would be a pleasant and routine one. […]