MyFDNY NEWS
2025 Strategic Plan. It will serve as a comprehensive roadmap for the future of the Department inclusive of forward-thinking goals and initiatives to help ensure the FDNY remains the nation’s premier all-hazards emergency response agency. The strategic plan will also help guide policy and operational improvements to continue bringing the Department into the 21st century.
The Strategic Plan focuses on four critical areas:
• Integrating Fire and EMS Operations
• Strategies to Reduce Medical Response Times
• Enhancing Public Safety for New Yorkers and Visitors
• Investing in Members
“The 2025 Strategic Plan is a fabulous tool for the FDNY to map its future
FIRST
CHIEF OF
John M. Esposito
The FDNY welcomed its first class of 2025 probationary firefighters at a graduation ceremony on May 14 at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn.
“Today, we celebrate all of you and welcome you, officially, into the FDNY family,” FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker said. “In the last 18 weeks, you have learned the basics of firefighting that will serve as the foundation
Eric Adams Mayor
Robert S. Tucker Commissioner
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A ROADMAP FOR THE FUTURE:
COMMISSIONER ROBERT S. TUCKER RELEASES 2025 FDNY STRATEGIC PLAN
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as an all-hazards emergency response agency,” FDNY Commissioner Tucker said. “We are focused on integrating Fire and EMS, on reducing medical response times, and investing in our members’ health and safety. In 2025, our Department is strong and we remain steadfast in our mission of saving life and property, and we are better trained and more prepared than ever. The initiatives in this plan will prepare us for good days and bad, and any
I had the pleasure of swearing in junior firefighters and EMTs on April 24 for National Take our Sons and Daughters to Work Day! It’s always a wonderful time speaking to future FDNY members—especially when they are the children of the men and women who make our Department the best in the world.
Follow FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker on
challenges that come our way, and allow us to continue to be the Best and Bravest for decades to come.”
The Strategic Plan was created by uniformed and civilian members, as well as executive staff. The first Strategic Plan was released in 2004, built upon recommendations made post September 11th in the McKinsey Report.
See the full Strategic Plan by scanning the QR code on Page 1 or at nyc.gov/fdny. n
THE FDNY WELCOMES NEWEST CLASS OF PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTERS TO ITS RANKS
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of your careers. It is these skills you will fall back on years from now— skills that will be sharpened and refined with time and experience. You will recall these days not as the hardest of your lives, but as the best.”
Chief of Department John Esposito said: “The FDNY is more than 150 years old. Over that time, much has changed: We have new technology, new tools, new rigs, and we respond to very different fires and emergencies than we did 150 years ago. But one thing that has not changed are the values of this Department. What remains constant across generations is the bravery, the discipline, and the dedication of our members. That is what defines the FDNY—not
just what we do, but how we do it and why we do it. I believe we are the greatest fire department in the world. That’s our standard, and it’s yours now, too.”
Over the course of 18 weeks at the Fire Academy, the probies trained in all aspects of firefighting, including fire suppression and medical response, hazardous materials, collapse and confined space rescues, auto extrication, building inspections and procedures for engine and ladder operations.
The probationary firefighters will be assigned to firehouses throughout New York City, where they will gain field experience under the guidance of senior firefighters and officers. n
The FDNY had 28 teams compete in the 3rd Annual Climb to SUMMIT at One Vanderbilt in Manhattan. The participants raced up 93 stories, totaling more than 1,100 feet. Scan the QR code on the back page for a photo gallery from the event.
CALENDAR
The FDNY and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) hosted a “Train the Trainer” workshop on April 29 at the Department’s EMS Academy at Fort Totten. The three-day training event brought together emergency response agencies from the across the region to share knowledge, build skills, and promote standardization in the use of drones and ground robots during emergency operations.
On the first day of the training, FDNY members provided hands-on air and ground robotics training, giving the participants skills and knowledge aimed at strengthening their own programs and departments.
The attendees included representatives from the New York City Police Department, NYC Emergency Management, the MTA, the Department of Homeland Security, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, Suffolk County Fire Rescue, the Syosset Fire Department, and the Mineola Fire Department.
“This event is a fantastic show of collaboration between the
FDNY, NIST, and other city agencies and regional partners,” FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker said. “Technology is emerging as one of the most critical aspects of fireground operations, and the skills we learn and teach today will save lives. The training that is happening will ensure our agency partners are prepared if we need them. We are grateful to all the departments and agencies represented for their partnership in this mission. We look forward to continuing to work together, learning from one another, and keeping our cities safe.”
Since 2014, the FDNY has used Department of Homeland Security grant funds to integrate drones and robotics into its emergency response at fires and operations across New York City. The devices have become a crucial part of the Department’s operations, allowing incident commanders to have an eye in the sky to see what cannot be observed from the ground. n
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(1) On April 28, FDNY members stopped by Real Heroes Day at the Armory in Manhattan. Real Heroes Day celebrates real-life heroes who help keep our communities safe. Each year, the Armory’s CityTrack and Little Feet programs invite first responders to participate in track-and-field drills and race alongside the young athletes to help form positive relationships. (2) The next generation of the FDNY took over Department Headquarters in Brooklyn on April 24 for National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. The young visitors “clocked in” and brought some serious smiles with them as they were treated to fire and life safety lessons, visits with Hot Dog and Siren, and a tour of FDNY apparatus. Each year on the fourth Thursday in April, this national day encourages parents to bring their children along for the ride. (3) The FDNY proudly recognized its staff working in administrative roles on April 23 for National Administrative Professionals Day! (4) The FDNY honored firefighters from Staten Island who made the Supreme Sa crifice at a memorial on May 10 at Rescue 5. The Department wil l never forget their bravery and sacrifice in keeping New York City safe. (5) Members from the FDNY Phoenix Society marched in the 2025 Japan Day Parade on May 10 in Manhattan. (6) On May 10, members from the FDNY Caribbean Society marched in the 6th Annual Haitian Culture Day Parade in Brooklyn. n
MEET PARAMEDIC HEMRAJ PERSAUD INSTRUCTOR, EMS ACADEMY
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 Hemraj Persaud, and I am fondly known to my coworkers and friends as “Hemi.” I am a paramedic for the New York City Fire Department. I have been with the Department for over 12 years. In my career to date, I’ve served in Harlem, Midtown, Washington Heights and the Bureau of Training. In 2022, I was requested to return to the FDNY EMS Academy along with a few others to help revitalize the training and to teach the new paramedic students. I am certified to teach civilians when they join FDNY to become emergency medical technicians and as they progress through their careers to become paramedics.
2. What called you to a life of public service at FDNY?
I graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement. FDNY EMS called me as soon as I graduated, and I have never looked back. The decision was a life-changing one, and I have been able to make positive impacts on the lives of many New Yorkers as a first responder. I figured if you have a medical background, you’re always going to be able to utilize this skill across other professional settings. I ended up discovering a passion for pre-hospital medicine, and that’s why I became a paramedic and decided to stay.
3. Can you share one of your most memorable moments while working at FDNY?
I think there are many memorable moments for EMTs and paramedics like us; unfortunately, on this job, there are more bad memories than good ones. I’ve really been trying to think about how to answer this question honestly without being very dark. Some of the truly memorable moments come from being a part of tight-knit team during these challenging events—they make the job easier. They make me look forward to coming work and have an enjoyable experience, even in the darkest times, especially during those tough calls like a pediatric cardiac arrest or someone cut in half by a train. Being a part of a team, and having the opportunity to lead, sets an example to the junior EMTs and paramedics.
4. What does We Are FDNY mean to you?
In the past 12 years being in EMS, I’ve literally met people from a vast range of cultures, different walks of life, nations around the globe—a mixture of unique and different people who have the same goal in mind to pretty much get the job done, to be prosperous together as a team.
5. What is your superpower (best quality or skill)?
My superpower is my ability to persevere while maintaining my authenticity during the extreme challenges as a New York City Fire Department paramedic.
6. How does your role support the public safety mission of the FDNY?
We help others in their time of need in our communities, which is a core motivator for many of us who are first responders. We thrive in these high-pressure situations, and it is very rewarding, especially when we know we’re helping others. Our work allows us to make somebody smile, and sometimes we hear the words, “Thank you.” n
FAMILY DAY FOR THE NEWEST CLASS OF PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTERS
On May 10, the family and friends of the FDNY’s first class of probationary firefighters for 2025 were invited to the Fire Academy on Randall’s Island for Family Day. The day is a long-standing tradition in the Department and allows the members to show off what they learned over the previous 18 weeks. Scan the QR code to see a photo gallery from the day’s events! n
FDNY AND FDNY FOUNDATION HOST ANNUAL SEARCH & RESCUE FIELD MEDICINE SYMPOSIUM
The FDNY Search & Rescue Field Medicine Symposium took place April 24-27 in New York City, bringing together first responders from military, federal, state and local agencies to share their knowledge, best practices and ideas in the field of search-and-rescue field medicine. First responders from eight countries and 35 states, as well as Washington, D.C., attended the 2025 SRFM. The four-day conference is in partnership with the FDNY Foundation, the official nonprofit organization of the Department. Read more and check out our photo gallery by scanning the QR code. n
podcast highlights
Developing greateralarm situational awareness with Assistant Chief Malcolm Moore and Deputy Assistant Chief Joseph Duggan
THE WRAP
“The legacy we leave behind is hard work.” - JoinFDNY Podcast Episode 28
The FDNY was proudly represented at the FDNY Foundation’s 3rd Annual Climb to SUMMIT on May 4 in Manhattan.
The event, put on by the Foundation in partnership with SL Green Realty Corp., brought together 28 teams from the Department to take on the challenge of racing up 93 stories—more than 1,100 feet—to the top of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt. Among the 330 climbers were firefighters, EMTs and paramedics from the FDNY. To celebrate the achievements of FDNY members, the top 20 teams from the Department will receive a stair climber for their respective firehouse or EMS station. The event raised more than $300,000 for the FDNY Foundation. n
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Throwback FDNY to 1948, when Firefighter Louis Block becomes the fifth person in the world to receive a heart transplant
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