Issuu

MyFDNY NEWS

Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh presides at 155th Medal Day

The FDNY held its 155th Medal Day Ceremony on June 5, honoring the lifesaving actions by its members during incidents throughout the previous calendar year. The ceremony, which dates back to 1869, is one of the Department's most time-honored traditions.

"Congratulations to all of our Medal Day recipients whose selfless acts are acknowledged today," Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said at the ceremony, which was held at City Hall Plaza in Manhattan. "Each day, our members confront unpredictable challenges that would make most hesitate. Yet, the men and women of the FDNY remain unwavering to their dedication to saving lives. On behalf of a grateful city, thank you for always answering the call."

"Medal Day is a celebration of courage, sacrifice and the winning spirit of the men and women of the FDNY," Chief of Department John Hodgens said. "Every single day, members of the FDNY respond to fires and emergencies and help

Applause

JUNE 2024

FIRE COMMISSIONER Laura Kavanagh

FIRST DEPUTY COMMISSIONER Joseph Pfeifer

CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT John J. Hodgens

Meet

Deputy Chief

Inspector

Chinelle Thomas

Page 4

CONGRATS, GRADS! Department celebrates 22nd graduating class of the FDNY

Officers Management Institute

Spotlight Page 2

BRAVEST VS. FINEST: FDNY takes on NYPD in annual Fun City Bowl

Page 3

We Are FDNY More on Page 2 plus

FDNY reunites cardiac arrest patients and their rescuers at 28th-annual Second Chance Ceremony

In honor of National EMS Week, the FDNY held its 28th-annual Second Chance Ceremony on May 23, reuniting eight cardiac arrest patients with the first responders and bystanders who helped save their lives.

"The Second Chance Ceremony really is the high-

MyFDNY PORTAL

Access the MyFDNY Portal by logging on with your single signon (SSO) credentials. If you experience technical difficulties with SSO or multifactor authentication (MFA), call the BTDS help desk at 718-9992611 or email BTDS@fdny.nyc.gov.

The FDNY Insider is now MyFDNY News! This monthly publication will be available in print and online.

Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh presides at 155th Medal Day

Continued from Page 1

New Yorkers get through what very well may be the worst day of their life. Today, we honor those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty—approaching perilous, unpredictable situations with bravery and skill. The firefighters and EMTs of the FDNY do not shy away from danger. They confront it head on, fully aware of the risks but driven by the commitment to protect and serve."

Every three years, the FDNY holds special recognition for the top Fire and EMS medal recipients from the preceding three years. This year's recipients are as follows:

Firefighter Artur Podgorski, Ladder 108, was awarded the Harry M. Archer Medal, which is awarded every three years to a holder of the Chief of Department Peter J. Ganci Jr. Medal and the NYS Honorary Fire Chiefs Association Medal. Firefighter Podgorski conducted a lifesaving rope rescue in

November 2022, saving a person dangling from a window on the 20th floor of a burning apartment building.

EMT Gary Hui and EMT Samuel Wright were awarded the Paramedic Carlos Lillo-Lieutenant Ricardo Quinn Medal, which is awarded every three years to a holder of the Christopher J. Prescott Medal. EMTs Hui and Wright rescued an unconscious driver after the driver's dump truck crashed and trapped them inside the vehicle as it started to burn.

The 2024 top medal recipients for incidents that occurred in 2023 were given to the following FDNY members: Lieutenant Mark Russo, Rescue Battalion, was awarded the 2024 Chief of Department Peter J. Ganci Jr. Medal and the NYS Honorary Fire Chiefs Association Medal for an incident that happened in February 2023. Lt. Russo and Squad 8 rescued a firefighter trapped on the second floor of a burning building on Staten Island.

EMT Emmanuel Titus and EMT Shawn Griffin were awarded the 2024 Christopher J. Prescott Medal for an incident that happened in April 2023. The two EMTs responded to a 911 call in regard to an incident on the Kosciuszko Bridge. They made contact with a person sitting on the edge of the bridge and intending to jump. EMT Griffin climbed over the side of the bridge, and the two FDNY members established trust with the patient, eventually guiding them back to safety.

A new medal was also presented this year: The Battalion Chief Thomas J. Neary Harlem Firefighters Medal was awarded to Captain Johnathan Shields, Ladder 42, for rescuing three individuals during a fire in the Bronx.

Read through the 155th Medal Day Book for a full list of this year’s medal recipients, as well as the stories that detail their bravery, by scanning the QR code on page 1. n

FDNY reunites cardiac arrest patients and their rescuers at 28th-annual Second Chance Ceremony

Continued from Page 1

light of EMS Week, illuminating the exceptional dedication and skill of our EMS members who perform miracles every single day," Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said at the annual event, which took place at Liberty Warehouse in Brooklyn. "The FDNY responds to an astonishing 1.6 million medical calls. In the face of emergency and desperation, our EMTs, paramedics, officers and dispatchers provide help."

The Second Chance Ceremony has reunited more than 200 patients with members of the FDNY who saved their lives.

Several of this year's survivors received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from bystanders before on-duty FDNY members arrived. The FDNY CPR Training Unit offers free, compressions-only CPR classes throughout New York City and has trained more than 200,000 New Yorkers to perform bystander CPR, including more than 80,000 high school students. n

CONGRATS, GRADS! Department celebrates 22nd graduating class of the FDNY Officers Management Institute

FDNY Foundation. The program was developed based on

a recommendation in the McKinsey Report that was completed in the wake of September 11th. FOMI aims to make FDNY more resilient and stronger by giving high-ranking officers a solid foundation in management principles and leadership strategy.

"Congratulations to all of our graduates. I am extremely proud of their accomplishments,"Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said. "I commend them on their dedication to furthering their education through FOMI because it will undoubtedly benefit them, the people they lead and the Department."

A graduation event was held at the Commissioner Robert O. Lowery Auditorium at FDNY Headquarters in Brooklyn on May 30.

"Enrolling in such an intensive program, you took it upon yourselves to take your leadership and management skills to the next level," FDNY Chief of Staff Luis Martinez said at the graduation. "This will serve you well as you lead our members who look to you for guidance. Your accomplishment

today makes the Department more effective, efficient and resilient."

"Every day at FOMI, we learned another lesson," said Captain Matthew Quinn, the class speaker for the 2024 graduating class. "We learned management in communication, but we also learned psychology, sociology, design thinking and game theory. Fields like these don't seem like they would matter at even the best fire department in the world. But that education—and the understanding that came from it—is exactly what we need if we're going to meet the challenges we're going to face every day and the challenges we don't even know are going to happen next. FOMI's value to the Department is tremendous."

The six-month program is offered through Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and includes instruction from educators at Columbia, NYU, Wharton and the University of Pittsburgh, as well as business leaders from major corporations. n

The FDNY and the FDNY Foundation celebrated an exceptional group of leaders from the 22nd class of the FDNY Officers Management Institute (FOMI). FOMI was established in 2002 and is funded by the

SCAN ME

(1) In a battle on the gridiron, the FDNY Bravest and NYPD Finest football teams went head to head in the 52nd-annual Fun City Bowl on June 1. The yearly event always showcases spirit and competition and, more importantly, raises money for families of injured FDNY members and those who have made the Supreme Sacrifice. The Finest won this year’s matchup, 28-13. (2) Members of from the Ner Tamid Society represented the FDNY in the Israel Day Parade along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on June 2. (3) Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, Chief of Staff Luiz Martinez and Department members joined the FDNY Hispanic Society on June 9, to walk in the 67th annual National Puerto Rican Day Parade along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. (4) The Department was proudly represented at the 23rd annual FDNY Night with the Brooklyn Cyclones on June 7. Chief of EMS Operations Michael Fields threw out the first pitch ahead of the game, which the Cyclones won 13-7 over the Aberdeen IronBirds. (5) Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh joined hundreds of participants June 2, for the annual Tunnel 2 Towers Tower Climb NYC at One World Observatory. The event honors the memory of Firefighter Stephen Siller, who made the Supreme Sacrifice on September 11. (6) Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh joined the latest class of probationary EMTs for the Spirit Run on May 31, at Fort Totten. The run is a longstanding tradition that signals graduation day is on the horizon. A graduation ceremony took place June 11. n

meet Deputy Chief Inspector Chinelle Thomas

1. What is your name, title and years at FDNY? Where are you currently assigned and what are your work-related responsibilities?

My name is Chinelle Thomas. I am a deputy chief inspector in the Bureau of Fire Prevention and based in the District Office Headquarters. I've been with the FDNY for almost 10 years. My role is executive officer to the District Office director. This job entails assisting the management of the operations for the 10 subdivision units across the five boroughs. I assist all of the units with any issues or questions with the Accela program and/or inspections in the day-to-day oper ations. I also create tutorials and conduct training sessions with our inspectors and supervisors.

We unveiled a new inspection program called Accela, which I oversee for the District Office. Accela will enhance the way we conduct inspections. We are no longer using paper and pencil to conduct inspections in the field; we are now completely digital and using iPads. As part of the Bureau of Fire Prevention, we are everywhere all at once. We are forever growing, and we just really want to make sure the public knows we're here conducting inspections to keep NYC residents safe.

2. What called you to a life of public service at FDNY?

It started from my time in college when I went to John Jay School of Criminal Justice and majored in fire science. That major and related experiences made it clear to me that I should be working for FDNY and then the opportunity came for me to become a fire prevention inspector. I saw the requirements and thought to myself, "Yes, this is it." Two years after college, I joined FDNY.

3. Can you share one of your most memorable moments while working at FDNY?

One of the most impactful moments I had was during the COVID pandemic. I witnessed the appreciation the New York City public had for our job in a time of great need and anxiety, and we were able to offer support and give back. During that time, we were giving out PPE masks, hand sanitizer, and related items to help keep people safe. The fact that the community was so grateful, and that we were able to help save lives with that scale of the operation, is something I will never forget.

4. What does "We Are FDNY" mean to you?

"We Are FDNY" means to me that we are just like a family. And when I say family, it really means we are family. From the time I started in the Department to my current position, I've always felt camaraderie, respect for my colleagues and an atmosphere where we are all rooting for everyone to do better.

We are No. 1. Whatever you are going through, we are ready to help. It is like this not just in fire prevention, but across all FDNY bureaus and units.

5. What is your superpower (best quality or skill)?

My superpower is elasticity. I can work with all kinds of people under pressure with flexibility, doing a million things all at once, and still be very level-headed.

6. How does your role support the public safety mission of the FDNY?

I support the mission of FDNY through helping the inspectors every day with their operational tasks and making sure that they're able to do their jobs well. If they do their jobs well, that means I'm doing my job well supporting them, and we are all protecting life and property. n

Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh attended a lithium-ion battery roundtable on June 7. The conversation was put on by Congressman Dan Goldman and Councilmembers Alexa Aviles and Chris Marte. The group discussed educating New Yorkers, supporting delivery workers and safety tips. n

FDNY leadership visits new September 11th exhibit on the anniversary of the end to rescue efforts at Ground Zero

Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, First Deputy Commissioner Joseph Pfeifer and other FDNY officials visited the 9/11 Memorial & Museum on May 30, to view a new exhibit and attend a ceremony marking the formal end to rescue and recovery efforts at the site.

"Dust: Illness and Advocacy After 9/11" is a new installation that explores the impacts of the toxic plume that blanketed lower Manhattan streets and coated the insides of homes, businesses and schools in the area.

"The exhibit sheds light on the repercussions of the toxic dust that engulfed the city and its profound impact on those exposed to it," Fire Commissioner Kavanagh said.

The ceremony was held on the Memorial Glade and honors the rescue, recovery and relief workers; remembers those who have died from World Trade Center-related illnesses and injuries; and recognizes the resilience of the survivors and the lower Manhattan community.

The rescue, recovery and relief efforts at Ground Zero ended May 30, 2002. n

podcast highlights

With loud applause and cheers from colleagues, family members and friends, 63 members of the FDNY were promoted during a ceremony on May 28, at the Fire Academy on Randall’s Island. Deputy Assistant Chief Michael Woods, 30 captains and 32 lieutenants were sworn into their new roles. n

SCAN ME

Responding to cardiac calls with FDNY Paramedics Jonathan Morel and Maggie Studsrud.

“We mean it. All heroes are welcome.”

Throwback FDNY to 1861 when members of the FDNY fight a blaze in our nation’s capital; to 1942 when Joji Furuya becomes the first Asian-American firefighter in the Department; and to 1958 when Department Order No. 219 advises FDNY firefighters on the implementation of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

SCAN ME