JUNE/JULY 2005 VIEW Metro Tech FROM P OINT T ... kids grow up they will say ‘I want to be just like you.’” This year’s top medal, the James Gor-don Bennett Medal, was awarded

Whether it was a rescue from anunderground storage tank, sav-ing a blind elderly woman from

a building engulfed in flames or rescuingthree teenagers from drowning, thebravest of the Department’s ‘Bravest’were honored at FDNY Medal Day onJune 1.

The annual event honors firefighters,

fire officers, fire marshals and fire com-panies who went above and beyond thecall of duty, displaying courage under themost extreme conditions to help savelives.

“It has been said that ‘example is notthe main thing in influencing others. It isthe only thing,’” Fire CommissionerNicholas Scoppetta said. “And whether ornot today’s medal recipients had this inmind at the start of their tours, whether ornot they knew that during that tour theywould make a profound difference in thelife of a stranger, each has become a liv-ing example of all that is great about thisDepartment and has added to its storiedhistory.”

Mayor Michael Bloomberg agreed,“Flip through this year’s Medal Day bookand you will find stories of courage, quickthinking and tenacity. When kids grow upthey will say ‘I want to be just like you.’”

This year’s top medal, the James Gor-don Bennett Medal, was awarded to Fire-fighter Victor J. Rosa, Jr. of Ladder Com-pany 138 in Queens. Firefighter Rosa,along with members of Ladder 138,responded to a fire in Jackson Heights,Queens at 37-52 89th Street on December15, 2004. The fast moving fire – startedby a candle left unattended – had spreadfrom the second floor up to the third floorhallway. Using a portable ladder, Fire-fighter Rosa entered the third floor apart-ment above the fire and began searchingfor victims. Moving to the building’sexterior hallway without the protection ofa hose line, Firefighter Rosa encounteredheavy smoke and high heat. In the hall-way, Rosa successfully located three vic-tims, including a four-year-old child, andcarried them to safety.

FDNYNEWS

FROM

T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E N YC F I R E D E P A R T M E N TP O I N T 9

IN THIS ISSUE

❏ Commissioner’sMessage Pages 2-3

❏ FDNY News Pages 4-7;10-16

❏ In the Borough Pages 8-9

❏ Photo of the Month Page 16

VIEW Metro Tech

(Continued on page 14)

JUNE/ JULY 2005

2005 FDNY Medal DayDay of Celebration Honors Firefighters from All Five Boroughs

The 46 FDNY Medal Day recipients join Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta and Chief of DepartmentPeter Hayden on the steps of City Hall on June 1.

On January 23rd, we were all horrified by what occurred inthe Bronx, when six firefighters faced an impossible choiceand were forced to jump from a burning building. The fol-

lowing day, after meeting with our senior chiefs, I announced thatthe Department would consider issuing personal ropes to firefight-ers. Days later I met with Mayor Bloomberg – who approved mil-lions in city funds to move ahead with the development, purchaseand training needs for a new personal rope system. I directed thatwork begin immediately on this vital task and that it be fast-trackedas a top priority for the Department.

It is a tremendous credit to our firefighters and fire officers thaton June 5 - only four months after work began – we were able toannounce completion of design work on a new Personal Safety Sys-tem. Special credit goes to a core group of people with diverse back-grounds as machinists and mountain climbers — as well as rope res-cue operations — that dedicated themselves to developing this newsystem for firefighters.

As one of the leaders of the design and testing team, LieutenantTim Kelly said, “We were going at it as if we were sending an astro-naut into space.”

The goal from the outset was to provide our firefighters with asystem that is strong, easy to use and can be rapidly deployed. Thesewere all critical objectives, given the circumstances of the January23rd tragedy. From handie talkie radio transmissions that wererecorded, we know that less than two-and-a-half minutes elapsedbetween the time the first MAYDAY was given and our firefighterswere forced to jump from the building.

In the course of developing this system, the Department per-formed more than 5,000 tests on 36 different ropes and 15 differentdescent control devices. The new system is comprised of five com-ponents:

Commissioner’s Message2

ViewPoint from 9 MetroTech JUNE/ JULY 2005

The harness, which is eight ounces lighterthan our existing harness due to the use of alighter weight aluminum carabineer (but withthe same strength as our current steel carabi-neer). Harnesses will also be issued to everymember and will no longer be positional har-nesses.

The rope, which has a breaking strength ofmore than 5,000 pounds well above the NFPA1983 standard and made with a new generation fiber called Tech-nora, that offers tremendous thermal and abrasion resistance wellabove a simple nylon rope.

The descent control device (also known as an EXO), an easy-to-use piece of equipment that was a clear winner among the fire-fighters who tested numerous descent devices.

The hook is made of forged steel and was designed in-house byLieutenant Chris Delisio and Firefighter Geroge Gramas. The hookwill also have a breaking strength well above NFPA standards.

The final component is a harness bag, which will be attachedto the harness and will conveniently hold the entire system. Thisharness bag was also developed in-house by our Rope TestingGroup after exhaustive tests of off-the-shelf items proved inade-quate for our needs.

While we worked quickly to develop this system, we were com-mitted – as with any safety initiative - to making sure that the test-ing and evaluations were thorough and done properly. I directed theformation of a committee to oversee all aspects of this project –from component testing and evaluation, specification development,purchasing and training, to continued evaluation and quality assur-ance. The result was the Personal Safety System Committee co-chaired by Milton Fischberger, Deputy Commissioner for Technol-

Commissioner’s Message

Personal Safety System Developed for Firefighters

At June 6 announcement at Randall’s Island marking completion of design on Personal Safety System (left to right) Capt. Mike Hayes,Lieut. Paul Arias, Lieut. John Gormley, BC Andy Richter, UFOA Lieuts. rep. Jim McGowan, Lieut. Tim Kelly, Commissioner Scoppetta, Chief of Dept. Pete Hayden, Chief of Operations Sal Cassano, First Deputy Commissioner Frank Cruthers, UFOA Lieuts. repSteve Carbone and UFOA Chiefs rep Arthur Parinello. Also in attendance were several UFA officials, including President Steve Cassidy.

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Commissioner’s Message

ogy and Support Services, and Al Hay, Assistant Chief in charge ofSafety. In total, about 150 Department employees worked on thisproject, with many more participating in the exhaustive testing car-ried out on each component. Several units were involved in the day-to-day work: The Safety Command’s Research & DevelopmentUnit was responsible for developing the specifications for eachcomponent, as well as testing them; and the Bureau of Training’sRope Testing Group, composed of a core group of firefighters andfire officers, conducted extensive tests and developed some creativesolutions. We also hired an outside consultant and nationallyrenowned rope rescue experts to evaluate our testing proceduresand components. Also playing an essential, albeit behind the scenesrole, were members of the Department’s Management and PlanningUnit, Fiscal Services, Technical Services, and Technology Devel-opment and Systems. We also enlisted the cooperation, advice andexpertise of representatives from both the Uniformed FirefightersAssociation (UFA) and Uniformed Fire Officers Association(UFOA) in this important effort.

The system we will begin to issue in the next few months willbe the first of its kind for any major metropolitan fire department inthe country.

The FDNY plans to spend about $11 million to equip and trainall of our firefighters and fire officers. Training will start this fall,beginning with our Special Operations Command units, then mem-bers assigned to Ladder companies, and finally Engine companies.The training is scheduled to take place on overtime, seven days aweek, with two eight-hour sessions a day so that we can get thisequipment out into the field as quickly as possible.

As always, the safety of our firefighters remains a primary focus

of this Department. In the wake of the devastating tragedy last Jan-uary, members were motivated to action and innovation. Firefight-ers and fire officers from across the Department offered theirexpertise, conducted tests and provided valuable insight. The Per-sonal Safety System is a result of those efforts. It will protect ourmembers in the years to come, and, in an important way, it honorsthe memory of Lieutenants Curtis Meyran and John Bellew, and thesacrifices of Firefighters Jeff Cool, Joe DiBernardo, EugeneStolowski, and Brendan Cawley.

A firefighter demonstrates how the new System is utilized.

The new Personal Safety System that was chosen and rigorously tested by Department members.


4 FDNYNEWS

The EMS Command will soon berolling out a vehicle that will helpNew Yorkers breathe a little easier.

At the end of June, the first MobileRespiratory Treatment Unit (MRTU) willbe deployed out of Station 20 at JacobiMedical Center in the Bronx. The unitwill give EMS responders the ability toprovide oxygen treatments to up to 30individuals simultaneously.

“This has been a long time in coming,”said Chief of the EMS Command JohnPeruggia. “It will provide us a means toprotect ourselves against the unknown,and it makes us better equipped to helpthose in need in many different situa-tions.”

The MRTU holds eight cylinders ofoxygen (two sets of four), with eachcylinder containing 8,000 liters. Whenused in succession, the two sets of cylin-ders can sustain 30 patients using highlevels of oxygen for up to three hours. Ifthe situation requires further treatmenttime, extra tanks are available at everyEMS station, and a medical supply truckcan deliver additional cylinders to almost

anywhere in New York City within onehour, said Peruggia.

“This unit will be able to operate forunlimited amounts of time, it’s a greatresource for the Department,” ChiefPeruggia said.

In the past, patients in need of oxygentreatment would be transported to localhospitals, increasing the number of EMSunits that would need to respond to an

incident and placing an unnecessary bur-den on local hospitals.

With the new MRTU, EMS units cannow treat large numbers of individualswho have been exposed to noxious fumes,as well as transfer numerous patients con-currently or provide shelter for reliefworkers and victims in inclement weath-er. Approximately 10 EMS members willbe trained in MRTU operation, with oneassigned to the vehicle for each shift.Responding paramedics and EMTs wouldbe responsible for helping manage MRTUoperations.

“This is less resource intensive, whichis a definite plus for us,” Chief Peruggiasaid.

According to Chief Peruggia, theDepartment chose to locate the vehicle inthe Bronx because there are no other largeresponse vehicles based in that borough,which is home to numerous high-rise res-idential buildings (Manhattan and Queenseach have a Major Emergency ResponseVehicle – MERV– and Brooklyn is sched-uled to receive one soon). He also notedthat from its location in the Bronx, theunit will have quick access to highwaysand will be easily deployable to Manhat-tan, Queens and northern Brooklyn.

“Past experience has demonstrated aneed for this type of vehicle,” said ChiefPeruggia. “It’s a great addition to our fleetand will help us better serve the people ofNew York.”

New Addition to EMS Fleet First Mobile Respiratory Treatment Unit Deployed by FDNY EMS

The FDNY's first Mobile Respiratory Treatment Unit was deployed in June. This Unitwill be able to provide oxygen treatments for up to 30 patients.

Saying Thank You. On May 25, the FDNY thanked the staff at St. Barnabas Hos-pital for the tireless efforts and superior care they provided the Department’smembers following the tragic Bronx fire on January 23.Joining in the brief cer-emony were (L to R) Assistant Director of ICU Dr. D. Adler, Battalion ChiefKeith Cartica, EMS Division Chief Frances Pascale, Dr. J. Balentine,CaptainCaptain Chris King of Rescue 3, Emergency Department Nurse Manager VijayEdla, ICU Nurse Manager Pauline Francis-Lattery, Bronx Borough CommanderAssistant Chief Joseph Callan, Department of Emergency Medicine Director Dr.T. Spevack and Director of Trauma Dr. V. Fausto gather at St. Barnabas Hospi-tal.


5FDNYNEWS

Twelve weeks of grueling hard workculminated with hugs, laughter andapplause as 231 probationary fire-

fighters graduated from the FDNY FireAcademy on June 8.

“Courage, bravery, honor -- those arethe qualities that define a firefighter,” FireCommissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said.“Those are the qualities that will tell theentire city that you are different than otherpeople. Because you are a New York Cityfirefighter and you belong to the greatestFire Department in the world.”

Chief of Department Peter Haydenoffered the graduates some advice,“working in the Fire Department is a veryemotional roller coaster ride… You needto be focused, you need to be preparedand you can never let complacency set in.This job gets real – real quick.”

Hundreds of family members andfriends gathered at Brooklyn College tocongratulate and cheer the graduates, whowere praised for their dedication andteamwork.

And many were recognized for anoth-er trait they had in common – family. As

Commissioner Scoppetta noted, “By thelooks of things in today’s graduatingclass, courage and bravery might verywell be genetic.”

One such graduate was ProbationaryFirefighter Daiana Mielnik. She acceptedher certificate from Mayor MichaelBloomberg, Commissioner Scoppetta andChief Hayden as her sister, FirefighterKinga Mielnik of Engine 282, enthusias-

tically cheered her on.The pair is the only sister-sister firefighting duocurrently serving in theDepartment and only thesecond such pair in thehistory of the FDNY.

Probationary Fire-fighter Mielnik said shewas inspired to become afirefighter after seeinghow much her sisterenjoyed the job. Sheadded that her sisterKinga shared someinvaluable Departmentwisdom with her as sheentered the Academy:“Stay busy, stay out oftrouble and keep yourmouth shut.”

Probationary Fire-fighter Brian Flanagan

also comes from a distinguished Depart-ment bloodline. He is a fourth generationfirefighter, following his father, grandfa-ther and great grandfather into the FDNY.His father, Lt. Kevin Flanagan of LadderCompany 28, is a 27-year veteran of theDepartment. Collectively, the Flanaganfamily has worked more than 100 years inthe FDNY.

In addition, the class included 13 vet-erans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.Inspired by their service, the graduatescreated a fund to raise money to purchasecooling vests to send to other Departmentmembers still serving overseas. Theyraised more than $1,000 for the cause andwere able to purchase 10 vests for thetroops.

The class Valedictorian was Probation-ary Firefighter Kenneth Bello, who toldhis classmates “as long as we worktogether, there is nothing we can’t accom-plish.” Joining him were class Salutatori-an, Probationary Firefighter MichaelOber, and the Physical Fitness AwardWinner, Probationary Firefighter KellyCoyle.

Before the probies were sent off to var-ious firehouses throughout the City,Mayor Bloomberg offered them one lastword of advice.

“Get ready for the adventure of yourlives,” he said.

It Runs in the FamilyProbationary Firefighter Graduation Showcases Family Affair;

Mielniks, Flanagans among many welcoming another firefighter

On June 8, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta wel-comed 231 probationary firefighters at a graduation ceremony at Brooklyn College.

Probationary Firefighter Daiana Mielnik (right) joins hersister, Firefighter Kinga Mielnik, as the only sister-sisterfirefighting pair currently active in the Department and onlythe second in FDNY history.


6 FDNYNEWS

Saving Lives Across the WorldFDNY Helps Bring Bunker Gear to Kabul, Afghanistan

There’s a city on the other side of theworld where many of its one mil-lion residents do not have electrici-

ty and live in clay homes. Its streets have no driving laws, and are

swarmed with 4x4’s, donkey carts and theoccasional herd of sheep.

It’s a city that only most recently heardthe call of freedom. That city is Kabul,Afghanistan.

Left battered after 25 years of war andrevolution and most recently the campaignto restore democracy, Kabul residents and,more specifically, its firefighters, have hadto do largely ‘without.’

Kabul does not have running water, soits fire trucks have to carry well water intheir tanks. Its 350 firefighters earn $40per month, battle fires in a bunker gearjacket or pants (rarely both), and usecheap sunglasses as a substitute for eyeshields. It’s a situation that is unimagin-able to most FDNY members – especiallyretired firefighter Ed Quirk.

Formerly of Marine 9, FirefighterQuirk arrived in Afghanistan nearly oneyear ago, to assist with reconstruction.When he learned of the stark conditionsfaced by Kabul firefighters, he wanted tofind a way to help. Quirk, who is deployedwith the Army Corps of Engineers, said hehappened to meet a group of local fire-fighters in February, and got to tour theirstation.

“I saw the meager conditions of theirbunker gear, fire site and clothing, and Iknew I had to do something,” Quirk said.

On May 25, he was able to lend a handto Kabul’s Bravest by orchestrating thedonation of 15 new sets of bunker gear tothe city’s fire department.

“They were overwhelmed,” Quirk said.“They really appreciated this.”

His commander, Colonel JohnO’Dowd, head of the Afghanistan Engi-neering District and District Engineer forNew York after September 11th, said hetoo, recognized the Afghan firefighters’need after watching them battle a firecaused by a rocket missile.

“They were out with these old Russianfire trucks,” he said. “There was a hodge-podge of equipment – the stuff looked like

it was 30- to 40-years-old. But they werestill doing the work all firefighters do.”

With the support from Col. O’Dowd,Quirk contacted his friend, retired Marine9 Firefighter Dan Reddan.

Reddan said he remembered seeingpiles of old gear at the Quartermaster, andmade a number of calls to see if he couldobtain the used bunker gear for the fire-fighters overseas. For safety reasons, hesaid he was unable to obtain used gear, butwith the help of the FDNY and quarter-master supplier VF Solutions, and a nudgefrom the New York Post, he was able to doone better – obtain 15 new sets for theAfghan Department, valued at $1,200apiece.

“We were overwhelmed when wefound they were donating new bunkergear,” Quirk said. He added that AfghanCol. Mohammed Kazeem said the gear“was like getting medicine for a sick per-son.”

When the gear arrived in Afghanistan,

the Kabul City Fire Department arrangedan elaborate two-hour ceremony to thankits benefactors. They lined up their trucks,demonstrated how they respond to a fireand performed a prayer. Quirk and Col.O’Dowd said they were honored to be ableto pass along gear from one group of fire-fighters to another.

Quirk added that he is still looking fora number of items to donate to the fire-fighters, including training videos, booksand other educational supplies.

“Instructors are doing their job withlimited resources,” Col. O’Dowd said oftheir visit to the fire training facility forKabul and its surrounding provinces. “Itwas obvious they cared about their job andwere doing the best they could with whatthey had.”

For now, all involved said they werepleased they were able to help out in someway. “This was a very positive thing and Ihope they can do it again in the future,”Reddan said. “It is a good story with a niceending on both sides of the globe.”

(Top) Commander of Kabul Fire StationsCol. Mohd Kazim (fifth from the left),Retired FDNY Marine Engineer Ed Quirk(sixth from the right), Commander of theAfghanistan Engineering District Col.John O'Dowd (fourth from the right), Headof the Kabul Firefighters DepartmentBrigadier General Mohd Daud Askaryar(third from the right) and other members ofthe Army Corps of Engineers inAfghanistan celebrate the donation of 15sets of bunker gear to the Kabul FireDepartment.(Right) Firefighters from the Kabul Fire Department look on as Col. O'Dowd helpsorganize the new gear.


7FDNYNEWS

He’s a ‘Survivor’Firefighter Tom Westman Takes Home Top Prize on Reality TV Show

Who says nice guys always finishlast?

Fire Lieutenant Tom Westman ofLadder 108 used brains, brawn and hon-esty to defeat 20 fierce competitors andwin CBS Television’s Survivor: Palauon May 15.

“Playing it clean wasn’t a matter ofmorality, it was part of the strategy,” said41-year-old Westman. “I was always try-ing to play all the way down the board.The only position I was playing for wasto win the final prize.”

The reality show maroons contestantson a tropical island for 39 days, forcingthem to live off the land as they schemeto vote each other out of the competition.The hit show debuted in March 2000, andLt. Westman’s landslide win wrapped upits 10th season.

And no matter what his achievementon the show, from spearing a shark towinning “Immunity Challenges,” Lt.Westman credits all his success to hisfamily and his firehouse.

He said he decided to apply for theshow at the urging of his wife,Bernadette. Together they watched pastseasons of the show and he said shewould constantly tell him, “You couldhave easily beaten that guy.”

Auditions lasted for months and hewas told he was chosen as a contestantthree weeks before filming began. Imme-diately, he said, he tried to come up witha ‘character’ to play, but said his wife toldhim “don’t be false, just play hard and beyourself.”

“Luckily I’m a good, smart husbandwho listens to my wife,” he said.

Lt. Westman said he also physicallytrained for months before heading off tothe Pacific island, even before he knewhe was a contestant, swimming andworking on his stamina in the water. But,he added, “I attribute all my success tothe FDNY. The training and the mindsetthat when you set your mind to some-thing, coming up empty or failing justisn’t an option.”

He joined the Department on August3, 1985, after his father, FirefighterThomas J. Westman, coaxed him intotaking the exam.

“My father said that you don’t have totake the job but you have to try it for 20 or25 years and see if you like it,” he joked.The senior Westman retired from Engine

251 in 1990 with 33 years on the job.But Lt. Westman did not need to be

persuaded to become a firefighter. Hesaid he saw the job as the perfect way tospend ample time with his family, includ-ing his children Meghan, 9; Dedan, 7;and Conor, 5. And he said that growingup, he watched just how much his fatherloved going to work. “I saw you didn’tneed more than that.”

He also said he was thrilled to able tospend 16 of his 20 years on the job atLadder 108/Engine 216. “I’ve been luckyenough to spend both ends of my career

in the same firehouse, one of the bestin the City, with some of the bestguys on the job.”

Outside of the firehouse, Lt.Westman stays busy supporting phil-anthropies nationwide, which mostrecently have included an appear-ance at the Akron (Ohio) Children’sHospital Burn Center with fellowSurvivor castmate and friend IanRosenberger as well as work withDisabled Sports, USA.

He said his $1 million Survivorwinnings will be tucked away to fundhis children’s college tuition, wed-dings and other necessities. Andalthough he is retiring from the

Department on August, he stressed that hisbig win did not compel him to quit work,his wife did. She was always concernedabout the danger of firefighting, and aftersome “active negotiation,” he agreed thathe is ready to try something new.

“Leaving Ladder 108 will be the sad-dest day of my life, no matter when I doit,” he said. “And I would have to findsomething else rewarding to do. Everyday,even if it’s not something dramatic, youhave to have a sense of purpose. And what-ever I do after this, it would never com-pare.”

Commissioner Scoppetta and Chief Hayden congratulate Survivor: Palau winner Lt. Tom Westman.

EMS Captain William Merrins is some-one who believes in supporting his

own. He has volunteered for the NationalEMS Memorial Service (NEMSMS)since he first learned about the organiza-tion more than a decade ago. And thisMay, his dedication and enthusiasmhelped him win a three-year term on theorganization’s 12-member Board ofDirectors.

“NEMSMS gives me a better appreci-ation for the work [all EMS members]do,” said Capt. Merrins. “It brings anesprit-de-corps or brotherhood feelingthat EMS hasn’t always had before.”

Launched in 1992, NEMSMS honorsEMS personnel who have died in the lineof duty. The organization is based inRoanoke, Virginia, and is recognized bythe Senate and House of Representatives

as the country’s only official EMS memo-rial.

Each year the group hosts a ceremonyhonoring fallen EMS members at the endof National EMS Week. Family membersor agency representatives attending theevent are presented with a US flag thatwas flown over the Capitol Building, awhite rose representing their love and amedallion signifying their memory. Addi-tionally, a plaque is added to the Memori-al Wall in their honor.

Five FDNY members are listed on theWall, which Capt. Merrins said honorsapproximately 20 to 50 EMS membersnationwide each year.

“I think this is a very honorable serv-ice. I’d never seen anything like it forEMS professionals before,” he said.

Honoring Those Who Gave Their AllEMS Captain Appointed to National EMS Memorial Board


8 FDNYNEWS

I n t h e B o r o u g h :By: Assistant Chief Harold Meyers, Manhattan Borough Commander

As summer approaches and resi-dents of New York City begin torelax and prepare for vacation and

summer activities, the Manhattan Bor-ough Command (MBC) and its units gearup for the increased workload that thesummer brings.

Special EventsThe MBC and its units are charged

with providing life safety for the largenumber of special events scheduled everyyear at various venues within the Boroughof Manhattan. Battalion Chief RonaldWerner serves as the MBC Special Pro-jects Coordinator.

Special event planning starts longbefore the date of the event and involvesa number of Fire Department administra-tive units as well as many outside agen-cies. Through his wide range of experi-ence with these events, Chief Werner isable to use Fire Department resources,other City agencies and other outsideorganizations (the United States SecretService, Coast Guard, Macy’s, etc.) toensure that life and property are protect-ed, while allowing “the show to go on.”

Last year at this time, the resources ofthe Manhattan Borough Command werebeing marshaled for the RepublicanNational Convention. This year, alongwith planning for the usual complementof parades, street fairs and outdoor activi-ties, the MBC is gearing up for the 60thAnniversary of the United Nations. TheAnniversary will coincide with the meet-ing of the UN General Assembly in Sep-tember. Hundreds of diplomats and headsof state from around the world will be vis-iting New York for these two events, andMBC units will be called upon to provideextra protection for these visitors.

Fireworks are also a traditional part ofsummer celebrations. The firework dis-plays scheduled in Manhattan this sum-mer span the range from a small displaywith one barge near the Ritz Carlton to

celebrate a wedding, to the Macy’s 4th ofJuly celebration in the East River withseven barges. Few people watching thefireworks shows realize the behind-the-scenes work that it takes to create a pro-duction that is both safe and entertaining.

Each event requires the commitmentof many resources from the FDNY andother agencies. As a first step, the Bureauof Fire Prevention works with the localBattalion Chiefs conducting a “prelimi-nary site inspection.” As a result of thesite inspection, the Battalion Chief makesrecommendations through the Chain ofCommand regarding measures needed toensure the safety of the public and protec-tion of property. Recommendations maycall for Marine units and land units toattend the event to monitor and manageany problem that may arise.

Illegal fireworks are also a problem atthis time of year. Increased vigilance andfire prevention duties by MBC units inconjunction with the Bureau of FireInvestigation help keep fireworks off thestreets and prevent accidental fires andinjuries.

Parades and large street festivals arealso a large part of the rite of summer andfurther test the resources of the MBC.This year, the 116th Street Festival and

the National Puerto Rican Day Paradetook place on the same weekend in June.Third Division units were asked to pro-vide many additional members to staffthose events on what turned out to be avery hot summer weekend.

While the special events of summertake place, the day-to-day routines neces-sary to perform our main mission, fire-fighting, must still be carried out. Multi-Unit Drills (MUD), Company Drills,AFID and other training initiatives muststill take place despite the demands thatspecial events place on time and man-power. The efforts of the MBC Units aremuch appreciated.

TrainingAs always 2004/2005 was a busy year

for training with large-scale drills at manyManhattan locations including 70 PineStreet (AIG Insurance Company Head-quarters) for a full-scale hi-rise drill, withDivision 1 taking the lead in planning.The Time Warner Building in ColumbusCircle will host a large-scale drill withDivision 3 units later this summer.

Manhattan units have also been partic-ipating in a number of hi-rise roof opera-tion drills (AUC 269R) with NYPD heli-copters. These drills also utilize an AirRecon Chief (ARC) from Brooklyn flyingin from Floyd Bennett Field, who hoversover the drill and interacts and communi-cates with the roof units providing a veryrealistic training scenario

Centennial CelebrationOn September 25, Ladder 1 and

Engine 7 will hold a gala Centennial cel-ebration at its quarters on Duane Street.Festivities will include a ceremony inquarters for past and present members,followed by a block party that will sharethe event with their neighbors in Tribeca.

Manhattan Borough Update

BE A PART OF THE VIEWPOINT!

Email your suggestions [email protected].

By: EMS Chief Abdo Nahmod and Captain Luis Basso

Since 1970, the men and womenassigned to the then “Station 15”have known their home as Metro-

politan Hospital. Nestled next to theEmergency Room, Station 15 was abustling facility that offered excellent jobexperience and opportunities to EMSrookies and veterans alike. The stationwas strategically located to serve theManhattan communities of Yorkville,Spanish Harlem and El Barrio. Today, thatfacility is known as EMS Station 10.

In June 2005, EMS Station 10 wasofficially relocated to Draper Hall at 1918First Avenue in Manhattan. The new3,600 square foot facility, located alongthe FDR Drive, has a bright modernappearance and full facilities.

The commanding officer of Station 10is Captain Luis Basso. Captain Bassocommands nine EMS officers, 11 para-medics (including Michael Glenn who ison active military duty in Iraq) and 44EMTs. Station 10 turns out one ALS andfive BLS ambulances of which there isone BLS and one ALS Haz-Tac unit.These ambulances have Haz-Mat trainedpersonnel and are equipped with PPE,decontamination supplies and life-savinggear.

Station 10 plays host to some of thebusiest units in the City. They respond toa variety of assignments including render-ing care to the sick and injured, masscasualty incidents and special events suchas the 116th Street Festival, Puerto RicanDay Parade as well as the ING New YorkCity Marathon.

The members provide the best pre-hos-pital care to these communities, which arerich in both cultural and economic diver-sity. Ask any of the members of Station 10and you’ll find that the EMTs and Para-medics all share a common “love for thejob.” Many members feel like the Stationis an extension of their family and lookforward to coming to work. They developfriendships outside the workplace and

foster a positive environment for personaland professional growth and develop-ment. In the past, the members assignedto this Station have received recognitionand meritorious awards for individual andcommunal excellence.

The opening of this new EMS stationwill take the men and women assignedhere well into the future ensuring that thecommunities they serve continue toreceive top-notch pre-hospital emergencymedical care.


FDNYNEWS 9

M a n h a t ta nThe New EMS Station 10 “EL Barrio”

Help to Heal. On June 20, Chief of Department Peter Hayden accepted a $5 mil-lion grant from the American Red Cross on behalf of the Fire Department and theFDNY Fire Safety Education Fund. For the next two years, the grant will supportthe continued medical treatment for active and retired members of the FireDepartment who responded to the World Trade Center on 9/11. Chief Hayden andDeputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Prezant (second from the right) joinedU.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (6th from the left), American Red Cross 9/11 Recov-ery Program’s Executive Director Alan Goodman (6th from the right) and othergrant recipients at the event held at the American Red Cross of Greater NewYork's headquarters in Manhattan.

Station 10 members include (L to R), D/C Abdo Nahmod, Paramedic Marco Girao,Paramedic Juan Henriquez, Paramedic Valerie Gosling-Martinez, EMT-D JohnO'Connor, Captain Luis Basso, EMT-D Robert Brown, EMT-D Christian McNamee,EMT-D Jing Kong, EMT-D Emilio Martinez, EMT-D Martin Fernandez, Lt. StewartWolf and Division Commander Mark Steffens.


10 FDNYNEWS

In 1963, when he was 23 years old,Anthony Catapano was a ChemicalBank employee who really wanted to be

a firefighter.He passed the written test, but when it

came time for the medical exam, he founda glitch: he measured 5’6 ¼” – not theDepartment’s required minimum height of5’6 ½”.

Undeterred, he scheduled to take themedical exam again the next day anddevised a plan based what he knew aboutthe anatomy of the spine.

That night, he slept on the floor. In themorning, a close friend came over and car-ried the prospective firefighter to his car.He laid Catapano on the back seat, drovehim to the medical office and carried himinside.

When Catapano stepped up to be meas-ured for the second time, he was 5’6 ¾”.

This launched Firefighter Catapano’scareer with the Department, which can onlybe described as dedicated. He served 42years at Engine 202 – 20 years of whichwere as company chauffeur. Known as theDepartment’s longest serving firefighter,Catapano retired on May 23, his 65th birth-day.

“I don’t feel retired yet,” he said. “I justfeel like I have a few days off. I still don’tknow what retirement feels like.”

In his four decades on the job, Firefight-er Catapano said he has seen the Depart-ment evolve. He served under 13 commis-sioners and 17 chiefs of department. Hewatched as firehouse seniority decreased,the salary increased (his starting salary was

less than $100 per week), firefightersstopped riding on the back step of the rigand the pesky height requirement wasabandoned.

He also saw the equipment advance.When he first came on the job, firehouseswere just starting to supply air packs for allits members – even though firefightersrefused to use them.

“Change is hard in the Fire Depart-ment,” he said with a laugh. “At that time,we went into fires without a mask. If youput the mask on, you didn’t look right.”

He’s also seen dramatic changes in RedHook, Brooklyn, Engine 202/Ladder 101’shome and the neighborhood where he grewup. Although the area is in a real estate fluxtoday, when Firefighter Catapano started

working there, the area was filled withpaint factories and other industries.

He said that his first big job, and one ofhis most unusual, was at a nearby shellacand varnish manufacturing plant. He andother members of his Company could hearthe explosions from the kitchen of theirfirehouse and as they rushed to the scene,they saw empty 55-gallon chemical drumsblasting into the sky.

“It was exciting and scary at the sametime,” he said. “And it was funny becauseeveryone was going up the street and wewere running down.”

Although Firefighter Catapano loved hisjob, he said he never pressured his children(two daughters and a son) to join theDepartment. His son ultimately followed inhis dad’s footsteps a few years ago.

“I was just happy doing what I wasdoing and it must have rubbed off on him,”said Firefighter Catapano. “Other thanbeing with my family, I loved going towork.”

Although he is not sure what he will bedoing next, for now, Firefighter Catapanowill spend his free time fixing up hisdaughter’s house, playing softball with theFDNY team and watching his five grand-sons (ranging in age from 1 to 8) play base-ball.

Firefighter Catapano turned in his gearon June 1.

“I would have liked to stay a littlelonger,” he said. “But I’m sure I’m going tokeep busy now – as soon as I realize I’mretired.”

Golden GoodbyeAfter more than four decades, Firefighter Anthony Catapano retires

Firefighter Anthony Catapano, the Depart-ment's longest serving firefighter, on hislast tour.

Firefighter Catapano is joined by other members of his firehouse during his last day at Engine 202.


11FDNYNEWS

Who would have thought that los-ing a beloved ring could be agood thing?

When retired FDNY firefighter MikeLofaro lost his firefighter father’s ring, hethought it was gone forever. But on May24, the affable 79-year-old reclaimed theheirloom ring, made a new friend, and gotthe chance to return to his old stompingground, Engine 282/Ladder 148, the fire-house where he and his father served for acombined 58 years.

On Mother’s Day, Lofaro was travel-ing from Florida to his Lake Grove, LongIsland summer home on Amtrak’s Auto-Train. As he waited for his car to beunloaded in Lorton, Virginia (the train’sfinal stop), Lofaro says he somehow losthis beloved ring – the ring his father, Lt.John Lofaro, received for his promotionin 1938 and willed to his son 41 yearslater.

He said he looked everywhere for thering, but “there were so many people atthe station. I gave it up for lost, I neverthought I’d ever get it back.”

Little did he realize that on that sametrain was Harry Packman, an 86-year-oldretired US Treasury administrator, whowas also traveling to the New York areafrom his Florida home when he happenedto notice the ring near the tracks.

“I just slipped it into my pocket,”Packman said. “I didn’t think much of it.”

It wasn’t until he stopped at a coffeeshop on the way to his son’s house in NewJersey that he took a good look at the goldand diamond ring and noticed the inscrip-tion: “Presented by officers + members ofEng. 282 H + L 148 to Lieut. J. Lofaro 8-1-38.”

Packman said he immediately knew hehad found something special, and enlistedhis son for help. After some sleuthing, thePackmans were connected to their perfectinvestigative partner – Captain Mike Galaof Ladder 148.

Captain Gala has known the ring’sowner since he was a boy, growing up justblocks from Engine 282/Ladder 148 whenLofaro was an active firefighter there.Once the Captain determined that the ring

indeed belonged to hisfriend from years ago,he arranged a dinnerand reunion at the fire-house.

“I couldn’t believehow easy it was,” Cap-tain Gala said.

When they met,Lofaro and Packmanhugged. Packman pat-ted his new friend onthe cheek and immedi-ately pulled out a blackvelvet box from hispocket.

“Don’t worry, we’renot getting married,”Packman said with a smile as he openedthe box containing the ring. “My daugh-ter-in-law polished it up for you.”

Lofaro, who was a firefighter from1958 to 1986, worked most of his careerwith Ladder 148. His father worked atadjoining Engine 282 for ten years untilhis promotion, whenhe moved nearby toEngine 278, thecompany withwhich he workeduntil his retirementin 1959. Since theirfirehouses were soclose, Mike Lofarosaid that some of hisfondest memories asa firefighter werewhen, as a proby, hegot to battle a fewfires alongside hisfather.

He noted that thering “is the onlything I have toremember [myfather] by. I alwaysremember the ringbeing on his finger.It’s great to have itback.”

Lofaro said he isgoing to someday

give the ring to his 20-year-old grandson,whom he hopes will represent the nextgeneration of firefighters in the family.Yet, he says, although he is trying hard toconvince the young man to join theDepartment, he isn’t sure his urging willpay off. “He’s young, he wants to beeverything right now.”

Lost and FoundRetired Firefighter Reunited with Father’s Promotion Ring

(L to R) Harry Packman, retired Firefighter Mike Lofaro andCapt. Mike Gala of Ladder 148 share a laugh as Packmanreturns Lofaro's heirloom ring.

Packman (left) and Lofaro with the ring Lofaro's father receivedfor his promotion to lieutenant in 1938.

To many, the Fourth of July meansbarbeques and beach vacations, butto fire marshals it means only one

thing – fireworks.From early May thru July of each year,

the FDNY Bureau of Fire Investigation(BFI) teams up with the New York CityPolice Department to form the CitywideFireworks Taskforce. The unit works toreduce fireworks related fires and injuriesby cracking down on the sale, possessionand unlicensed display of fireworks inNew York.

“It’s a successful quality-of-lifeenforcement,” Chief Fire Marshal LouisGarcia said.

In the early 1990s, there were morethan 1,000 fires every July 4th, as well ashundreds of injuries, the majority ofwhich could be attributed to fireworks.The Department even added dozens ofunits from 6 p.m. on July 4th to 1 a.m. thenext morning to assist in responding tothe increased volume of emergencies.

One problem, according to Chief Gar-cia, was that people were shooting off therockets in crowded, residential areas.

“When you shoot a rocket off, it’sgoing to land someplace,” he said. “Andoften where it will land is through a win-dow or someplace like a rooftop.”

Another hazard was how the illegalfireworks were stored. Through the years,Chief Garcia said the Taskforce has

uncovered fire-works in someincredible places,including at a day-care center andaround a child’scrib.

And in terms ofinjuries, childrenand the elderly aremost at risk. ChiefGarcia said chil-dren often handlethe fireworks care-lessly, and the eld-erly can mistakethe waxy, candle-like shape of a fireworkfor a candlestick and ignite it indoors.

Former Fire Commissioner HowardSafir recognized the issue and wanted totake action. He asked BFI to start locatingpremises storing fireworks, arrest peopleselling and buying them and confiscatevehicles transporting the contraband.Thus, the Fireworks Taskforce waslaunched in 1994 on Canal Street in Man-hattan, in the heart of what was often con-sidered the “fireworks marketplace.”

That year, the fire marshals made 12arrests, confiscated five vehicles andserved a search warrant that produced aroom full of fireworks stored by a hotwater heater.

Then in 1996, the FDNY launched a

partnership with the NYPD, bringingtogether the vast resources of the policeforce with the expertise of the fire mar-shals. The collaboration increased mediacoverage and public education of fire-works laws.

Former Mayor Rudolph Giulianiapplauded the Taskforce’s efforts, saying“the FDNY can take pride in the Fire-works Taskforce 1996, because of a veryvisible contribution to the peace, healthand safety of the citizens of the City ofNew York.”

A year later, the Taskforce also teamedup with State Police agencies, the Bureauof Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explo-sives, and local law enforcement agen-cies, forming the Fireworks Compstat.

The partnership enabled fire marshalsto stop the contraband before it evenreached the City. That year, they seized28,000 cases of explosives (about 50tons) in Pennsylvania.

The impact of the interagency partner-ship was immediate. The number of firesand injuries from fireworks dropped dra-matically across the City.

“[This program] is akin to the DWIlaws,” Chief Garcia said. “It was some-thing that needed enforcement. When westarted cracking down, the numbersdropped.”

Chief Garcia added that the Taskforcehas been highly successful again this year.As of July 5, they confiscated 1,585 casesof fireworks and made 109 arrests. Therehave also been 275 fires caused by therockets in 2005 and only five injuries.

“Doctors in hospitals are telling ustheir trauma centers aren’t as busy,” ChiefGarcia said. “We’re happy to say it’s asuccessful initiative.”


12 FDNYNEWS

Fireworks Get the Boot: BFI Taskforce Keeps NYC Safe

Total Fires

0200400600800

1000120014001600

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

Total Fires

Brooklyn Box 2533on July 21, 1987: Amassive explosiontore through a plumb-ing supply store inBorough Park, Brook-lyn after a workerdropped a 20 poundpropane tank down astairwell into a base-ment where 12 otherpropane tanks andnine acetylene tankswere stored. The leaking gas found an ignition source and caused a thunderousblast. The plumbing store, as well as two other adjacent buildings, collapsed.Engine Companies 250 and 330, and Ladder 148 were the first to respond. Fire-fighters John Fassari and Brian Foley were awarded medals for their bravery insaving three individuals from tunnel-like vertical voids.

T H I S M O N T H I N F D N Y H I S T O RY

A Street of His OwnCaptain Terry Hatton, Lost on 9/11, Honored with Street Renaming

His firehouse nickname, CaptainMan-Hatton, made him sound abit like a superhero, and to many

New Yorkers, he was. Known for his daring rescues and

obsession with Post-It notes, Captain Ter-ence S. Hatton of Rescue 1 was a legendby any standard. His death on September11th left an indelible mark on the Depart-ment.

On June 14, the City he worked to pro-tect honored him in front of his belovedfirehouse, as West 43rd Street, between10th and 11th Avenues, was renamed inhis honor.

“He was everything you could want ina firefighter, and he raised the bar forwhat you could expect from a fire offi-cer,” Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scop-petta said. “We just needed a little moretime.”

Hundreds stopped by to watch Capt.Hatton’s three-year-old daughter, Terri –with a little help from Mayor MichaelBloomberg – unveil the new street sign inmidtown Manhattan.

Capt. Hatton was described as a coura-geous, passionate and dedicated man.

Lieutenant JohnFlatley of SquadCompany 41described him as amentor and friendwhose, “enthusi-asm was conta-gious.”

Capt. Hattonalso taught him tolive by three rules,said Lt. Flately.“Treat people theway you want tobe treated, treatevery fire as if itwere at a familymember’s homeand stick by yourdecisions,” hesaid.

Lieutenant John Weisheit of Rescue 1added that Capt. Hatton was “striving tomake everything safer and better. He isstill a driving force for me, Rescue 1 andthe Fire Department.” He also said thatthe Captain’s two favorite words were‘outstanding’ and ‘unacceptable,’ and that“you didn’t want to be around when he

used ‘unacceptable.’”In his 21 years as a firefighter, Capt.

Hatton received 19 medals of valor andremains one of the most decorated fire-fighters in the history of the Department.He saved a woman from a Queens dinerleveled by a gas explosion in 1994, res-cued a dozen people from a disabled ele-vator on the 78th floor of the World TradeCenter in 2000, and was part of the searchand rescue team in Oklahoma City afterthe bombing in 1995.

“I gave him a medal so often, I thinkwe ran out of medals,” friend and formerMayor Rudolph Giuliani joked. “He stoodout in a Department of people who standout.”

Giuliani also acknowledged the fire-fighter’s innovative thinking, noting thathe was constantly studying architecture sothat he could be better prepared for firesand he helped design the truck Rescue 1uses today. “He helped to write the histo-ry of the Fire Department,” he said.

Beth Petrone-Hatton, Capt. Hatton’swife, said she tries not to romanticize herhusband, but to describe him as a real per-son for their daughter. But after today,“She’s going to look at that sign andthink, ‘gee, my dad really was what mymom said.’”


13FDNYNEWS

Blessing of the Fleet

Lt. John Flately, Lt. John Weisheit, Commissioner Scoppetta, former-Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and former-Fire Commissioner Thomas VonEssen look on as Mayor Michael Bloomberg helps Terri Hatton andher mom, Beth Petrone-Hatton, unveil the new street sign honoringCapt. Terry Hatton in front of Rescue 1.

On June 17, the annual Blessing of the Marine Fleet took place off Pier 17 atthe South Street Seaport. Commissioner Scoppetta, Chief Hayden and ChiefCassano stood by as FDNY Chaplain Msgr. Marc Filacchione blessed theFDNY’s nine fireboats (including the John D. McKean of Marine 1, above) aswell as one Coast Guard vessel.


14 FDNYNEWS

“Today we honor Firefighter Rosa andmany others,” Commissioner Scoppettasaid. “His actions that cold Decembernight embody the qualities which manyspeak of, but few possess. Courage, brav-ery, sacrifice — the qualities that definefirefighters and make them different fromthe rest of us.”

Five other medals were also awardedto members who performed heroically atthis fire. Although two civilian lives werelost and 15 others were critically or seri-ously injured at this fire, the toll wouldhave been much worse if not for theirefforts.

“This is amazing,” Firefighter Rosasaid shaking his head and peering down atthe medals around his neck. “But it was ateam effort, definitely.”

Hundreds of Department members,standing ten deep, joined in cheering onthose honored at the ceremony. Thecrowd chanted, cheered and blasted hornshonoring their fellow firefighters as theirnames were called to receive medals.

Among the honorees was MarineEngineer Joseph C. Stark of Marine Com-pany 1, who received the FirefighterDavid J. DeFranco Medal for saving aman from drowning in the 48-degreewaters of the Hudson River; Fire MarshalRichard Grigoli, who received the DeputyCommissioner Christine R. Godek Medalfor investigating and unraveling an arsoncase; and Firefighter Thomas Maxwell ofLadder 44, who earned the Walter ScottMedal for saving a 3-year old boy from anintense fire.

Yet one of the most celebrated hon-orees at the ceremony was the recipient ofthe Emily Trevor/Mary B. Warren Medal,Firefighter Jeffery Cool of Rescue 3.

The crowd leapt to its feet and cheeredas the firefighter, who was criticallyinjured in January’s fatal Bronx fire,walked steadily, with the aid of a cane, toreceive his Medal for a roof rescue lastJune.

Commissioner Scoppetta applauded allthe day’s medal recipients, saying, “It isthe importance of the work you do, theremarkable example you set, that makesus want to come to work every day.”

Firefighter Victor J. Rosa of Ladder 138 accepts the James Gordon Bennett Medal fromMayor Bloomberg, Commissioner Scoppetta, Chief Hayden and representatives fromthe NYS Honorary Fire Chiefs Association, Ed Lintol and David Gold.

Firefighter Jeffery Cool of Rescue 3 receives the Emily Trevor/Mary B. Warren Medalfrom Mayor Bloomberg, Commissioner Scoppetta and Chief Hayden.

2005 FDNY Medal Day(Continued from page 1)


15FDNYNEWS

James Gordon Bennett Medal/NYSHonorary Fire Chiefs Association

Medal – Firefighter Victor J. Rosa,Jr., Ladder Company 138

Brooklyn Citizens Medal/FF LouisValentino Award –

FirefighterAnthony A. Maiello, Ladder Company 170

Hugh Bonner Medal – Firefighter Paul Mastronardi, Rescue

Company 4

Emily Trevor/Mary B. Warren Medal –

Firefighter Jeffery G. Cool, Rescue Company 3

Thomas E. Crimmins Medal –Firefighter John B. Veirun,

Ladder Company 46

Thomas A. Kenny Memorial Medal –

Firefighter David J. Segot, LadderCompany 40

Walter Scott Medal – Firefighter

Thomas P. Maxwell, Ladder Company 44

John G. Prentice Medal – Firefighter

Patrick A. McKenna, Rescue Company 3

Henry D. Brookman Medal – Firefighter Daniel R. Foley,

Rescue Company 3

M. J. Delehanty Medal – Firefighter Richard P. Donovan,

Ladder Company 51

William F. Conran Medal – Firefighter Paul A. Miller,

Ladder Company 48

Mayor Fiorello G. LaGuardia Medal –

Firefighter Brian W. Cullen, Ladder Company 138

Chief John J. McElligott Medal/Fitzpatrick and Frisby Award –

FirefighterAndrew T. Gaughan,Rescue Company 4

Thomas F. Dougherty Medal – Firefighter Joseph J. Tarantini,

Ladder Company 138

Albert S. Johnston Medal – Firefighter

Vincent A. Tavella, Jr., Rescue Company 2

Bella Stiefel Medal –Captain Brian A. Becker, Division 13 (assigned),

Ladder Company 143 (detailed)

Vincent J. Kane Medal – Lieutenant

Peter M. Lusenskas, Ladder Company 117

Pulaski Association Medal – Firefighter

Rodney A. DeCuffa, Jr., Ladder Company 51

Commissioner Edward Thompson Medal –

LieutenantWilliam T. McGee,

Ladder Company 51

Columbia Association Medal – Firefighter

Todd A. Fredrickson, Ladder Company 43

Susan Wagner Medal – Firefighter Eugene F. Nickola,

Ladder Company 133

Steuben Association Medal – Firefighter John F. Hourican,

Rescue Company 5

Dr. J. W. Goldenkranz Medal – Firefighter Scott M. Atlas,

Ladder Company 36

Uniformed Fire Officers Association Medal –

Lieutenant Joseph R. Cilento, Ladder Company 168

Edith B. Goldman Medal – Firefighter Brian T. Sullivan,

Ladder Company 173

American Legion Post 930/Mark M. Wohlfeld Memorial Medal –

Firefighter Jonathan Hoffman, Ladder Company 144

Arthur J. Laufer Memorial Medal –

Firefighter Ryan R. Nordman,Ladder Company 45

Emerald Society Pipes and Drums Medal –

FirefighterJohn V. Kroczynski,

Ladder Company 169

Company Officers Association Medal –

Captain Justin C. Werner, Ladder Company 147

Chief Joseph B. Martin Medal –Lieutenant Philip J. Solimeo,

Rescue Company 5

Honor Legion Medal – Lieutenant John M. Spillane,

Ladder Company 105

Police Honor Legion Medal – Captain Peter J. Frontera,

Ladder Company 113

FirefighterDavid J. DeFranco Medal –

Marine EngineerJoseph C. Stark,

Marine Company 1

Lt. James E. Zahn/Lt. Peter L.Troiano Memorial Medal –

Firefighter Michael N. Cook,Ladder Company 41

NY Firefighters Burn Center Foundation Medal –Engine Company 298

Firefighter Thomas R. Elsasser Memorial Medal –

Ladder Company 138

Deputy Commissioner Christine R. Godek Medal –

Fire Marshal Richard J. Grigoli,

BFI, City-Wide Command

William Friedberg Medal – Firefighter

Christopher J. Sweeney, Engine Company 73 (assigned), Ladder Company 17 (detailed)

Shelly Rothman Memorial Medal – Firefighter Michael Sarro, Ladder

Company 117

2 0 0 5 M e d a l W i n n e r s

Medal winners and their families during the closing benedic-tion at Medal Day. Hundreds of Department members joined incongratulating the winners.

Nearly four years after the attackson September 11th, friends, fami-ly and fellow firefighters gathered

to bid farewell to Firefighter Keithroy(Keith) Maynard of Engine 33, one of the343 firefighters who died at the WorldTrade Center.

It was a sweltering morning on June11, as hundreds of firefighters filled twoblocks of Morningside Avenue outside ofthe Church of the Master in Manhattan topay their final respects to the 30-year-oldfirefighter.

“He is a hero to firefighters across theworld,” Fire Commissioner NicholasScoppetta said. “He is a hero to the Cityhe gave his all to protect, and to the coun-try that found solace in the bravery andcommitment to service that his finalactions embodied.”

Firefighter Maynard’s family held amemorial service for him in November2001, but decided to also hold a funeralafter his remains were identified.

He was described as a passionate,funny and kindhearted man who careddeeply for his family. He joined theDepartment at the urging of his father,Captain Reynold White, a 33-year veteranof the FDNY, and graduated from the FireAcademy in 1999, just months before hisfather passed away.

His three brothers said that FirefighterMaynard had always wanted to be a role

model for young boys and hoped toquickly advance through the ranks of theDepartment.

His brother Duane White, a New YorkCity Police Officer, described his brotheras “one of the best people this City hasever had,” and added that he carries hisbrother’s shield with him every day onpatrol.

Kevin Maynard, Firefighter Maynard’stwin brother, added that he decided to jointhe Houston Fire Department followinghis brother’s death.

“I just figured I’d finish his legacy,” hesaid.

There were many tears and hugs at the

ceremony, which Mayor MichaelBloomberg said he hopes will bring thefamily, “a measure of closure.”

Firefighter Maynard was buried on theCaribbean Island of Montserrat, where hewas born and raised.

FDNYNEWS

F D N Y1865-2005

A 140 YEAR HISTORYOF COMMITMENT,

COURAGE & COMPASSION


FRANCIS X. GRIBBONDEPUTY COMMISSIONER

S. PAUL ANTONELLIPUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR

VIRGINIA LAMEDITOR

EMILY RAHIMI, ALEX WATSON WRITERS

THOMAS ITTYCHERIAPRODUCTION

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FIRE DEPARTMENTCITY OF NEW YORK9 METROTECH CENTER

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11201

ViewPoint is published entirely in-house by the FDNYOffice of Public Information

VIEWP O I N T

Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor, City of New YorkNicholas Scoppetta, NYC Fire Commissioner

NEWSLETTER OF THE NYC FIRE DEPARTMENT

JUNE/JULY 2005

P H O T O O F T H E M O N T H

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta and Chief of Department Peter Hayden thankHawaiian school children for their gifts of leis, a ukulele and a 9’11” long surfboardhonoring the victims of September 11th. The children performed traditional Hawaiiandances and special songs for a large crowd at FDNY Headquarters on June 2.

Long Farewell to a Hero

Hundreds gather to say goodbye to Firefighter Keithroy Maynard of Engine 33. Fire-fighter Maynard was one of the 343 firefighters who gave their lives on 9/11.

Documents

JUNE/JULY 2005 VIEW Metro Tech FROM P OINT T ... kids grow up they will say ‘I want to be just like you.’” This year’s top medal, the James Gor-don Bennett Medal, was awarded