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FDNY HONORS 8 MEMBERS WHO DIED OVER THE PAST YEAR AT 118TH MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE
The New York City Fire Department held its 118th Memorial Day Service on Oct. 8, honoring eight members who have died over the past year. The annual remembrance was held at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City.
“Memorial Day is an annual day that allows us to mark those who have passed the year before. It’s a solemn occasion and a necessary one—giving us the chance to pause, reflect and remember,” FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker said. “The FDNY members we honor today were selfless and extraordinary people dedicated to public service. They gave their lives to our city, taking a sworn oath to protect and serve. This vow guided them every day. They lived as they worked—with honor and with dignity.”
Chief of Department John Esposito said: “Each October, we come together as a Department to remember the FDNY members we have lost over the past year. This is always a solemn day and one that reminds us of the bonds
OCTOBER 2025
FIRE
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Robert S.
Mark Guerra CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT John M. Esposito
The FDNY welcomed its second class of 2025 probationary firefighters at a graduation ceremony on Sept. 25 at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn.
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On Oct. 8, we came together to remember eight active FDNY members who died over the past year. FDNY Memorial Day is a somber day, but it’s necessary. It is a day to reflect and honor those who meant so much to so many.
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The FDNY remembered eight members who died over the past year at the 118th Memorial Day Service on Oct. 8.
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• Captain Thomas LaBarbiera, Engine 93
• Firefighter Patrick Sheridan, Engine 71
• EMT Christopher Respol, EMS BOT
• EMS Lieutenant Emilio Gonzalez, EMD - PSAC 1
• EMS Lieutenant Nelson Seto, Station 38
• Captain Gregory Schmidt, Engine 8
• EMT Christina Jo McKeen, EMS BOT
• Firefighter Matthew Goicochea, Ladder 41
and traditions we have as a Department, and the promise we keep to never forget. To the families here with us: Your presence means everything. We know no words can ease the pain of your loss, but please know that your loved ones are remembered, respected and cherished. Each of them dedicated their lives to this city and to their fellow New Yorkers. They served with pride, with skill, and with a devotion to duty that defines the FDNY.”
The annual event is usually held at the Firemen’s Memorial in Manhattan, which has stood as a tribute to New York City’s first responders since 1913. This year’s service was moved indoors due to weather.
Watch the livestream of the service and see a photo gallery by scanning the QR code on Page 1. n
FDNY COMMISSIONER ROBERT S. TUCKER WELCOMES SECOND CLASS OF 2025 PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTERS TO THE DEPARTMENT’S RANKS
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“Today, we graduate 344 probationary firefighters into the ranks of the FDNY. All of you have answered a calling greater than yourselves: the call to public service—protecting life and property,” FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker said at the graduation. “Today is a day that marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. As you move through your careers, you will be called in to difficult, challenging and dangerous situations. You will rely on your training, but I encourage you to keep learning. What you have been taught in the Fire Academy will pale in comparison to what you experience on the fireground.”
Chief of Department John Esposito said: “Each of you has worked tirelessly over the last 18 weeks to earn this moment, and you should be immensely proud. This Department has served New York City
for 160 years. Technology has changed, the challenges we face have evolved, but what has never changed are the values that define us: bravery, discipline, and a commitment to protect life and property. Starting today, those values are yours to uphold.”
Over the course of 18 weeks at the FDNY Fire Academy on Randall’s Island, 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 to engine and ladder operations.
The probationary firefighters were assigned to firehouses throughout New York City, where they will gain valuable field experience under the guidance of senior firefighters and officers. n
The FDNY, in partnership with the FDNY Foundation and the American Red Cross, relaunched the #GetAlarmedNYC campaign, the citywide initiative to install thousands of free smoke alarms across New York City over the next year.
The announcement was made Oct. 6 in front of a Manhattan apartment building where four people were critically injured in a fire earlier this year. The announcement also coincided with the start of National Fire Prevention Week, which was Oct. 5-11.
“Today, we are here to remind New Yorkers about an important partnership we have had for more than 10 years that allows us to give away free smoke alarms to those who need them,” FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker said. “October is Fire Prevention Month, but fire safety is a year-round activity, and it never expires. To that end, we’re constantly out in the field teaching people about fire safety.”
The program was first launched in 2015, spurred by the tragic deaths of seven children in one fire in March of that year. Over the last decade, more than 300,000 smoke alarms have been installed in New York City homes, including hundreds of specialty alarms for the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.
When working smoke alarms are present in your home, the risk of dying in a home fire is cut by about 60%, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
American Red Cross Greater New York Region CEO Doreen Thomas-Howe said: “I’m so proud to stand alongside the FDNY and the FDNY Foundation to help save lives. We have documented 82 lives saved right here in New York City from this partnership. These documented cases represent individuals who were able to escape a home fire because the alarm that was installed during one of our installations alerted them to a home fire.”
FDNY Foundation Executive Director Jean O’Shea said: “The FDNY Foundation has been funding this effort for over 10 years, and thanks to the remarkable work of our members, we have installed thousands of working smoke alarms. We are saving lives, which is our mission—to help the FDNY save lives and protect property in New York City.”
New Yorkers can learn more about #GetAlarmedNYC and schedule a free smoke alarm
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(1) The FDNY marked 100 years of service from Ladder 153 at a centennial celebration on Oct. 1 in Brooklyn. The celebration inside of firehouse quarters included members, alumni, family, and friends. Ladder 153 went into service in March 1925, serving the residents of the Gravesend neighborhood of Brooklyn and New York City. (2) The FDNY and the FDNY Foundation welcomed fire service professionals from across the country to the 2025 FDNY High-Rise Symposium Oct. 3-5 in New York City. The three-day event brought together representatives from the fire service to explore the latest advancements and strategies in high-rise fire operations and building safety. Attendees participated in lectures, tours and hands-on demonstrations led by industry leaders, FDNY’s subject matter experts and partner organizations. (3) On Oct. 2, FDNY members attended the 2025 Guardian Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The service, which happens every two years, recognizes the unwavering commitment of first responders, honors the memory of those who have made the Supreme Sacrifice, and expresses gratit ude to the men and women working in public safety who protect New Yorkers every day. (4) The FDNY held a graduation ceremony for its latest class of Fire Alarm Dispatchers on Oct. 14 at the FDNY Fire Academy. FDNY dispatchers play an invaluable role in saving lives and are often the first line of communication in an emergency. Congratulations! (5) The latest EMS Family Day took place Oct. 4 at the EMS Academy at Fort Totten. The next class of probationary EMTs welcomed their families and friends to the training ground and gave them a glimpse into the skills they learned over the last 13 weeks. (6) FDNY members, New Yorkers and thousands of visitors participated in the annual Tunnel 2 Towers 5K Run & Walk on Sept. 28 in memory of FDNY Firefighter Stephen Siller and all those lost on September 11th. n
1. What is your name, title, and how long have you worked at the FDNY? Where are you cur rently assigned, and what are your work-related responsibilities?
My name is Ralph Saint-Eloi. I am a fire alarm dispatcher assigned to Brooklyn. I’ve been with FDNY for eight years.
My work-related responsibilities are coordinating emergency responses and ensuring that the right resources are being sent to the right location at the right time, quickly.
2. What called you to a life of public service at the FDNY?
I always had a calling to help others. Being in FDNY enables me to be at the right place at the right time to impact people’s lives positively.
3. Can you share one of your most memorable moments while working at the FDNY?
I received a hysterical phone call from a mother. She reported there was a fire on the first floor, and she was on the second floor. I used my skills to obtain her address and to get her exact location in the house. As I was typing the information into the system, I yelled to the person at the radio that a mother and child were trapped in a bathroom on the second floor of a two-story private dwelling on the No. 1 side. I remained on the phone until the firefighters rescued her with her child. This crisis experience with a rescue stays with me to this day.
4. What does We Are FDNY mean to you?
It means that we are a big family that works together. We are made of highly skilled professionals who love what they do and impact people’s lives positively.
5. What is your superpower (best quality or skill)?
I feel that I can remain calm and make quick decisions in any circumstances. I assume all dispatchers possess these superpowers.
6. How does your role support the public safety mission of the FDNY?
My role as a fire alarm dispatcher is critical in saving lives to ensure that I coordinate emergency responses and that the right resources are being sent to the right location at the right time. n
THE FDNY KICKS OFF 2025 EMS RECRUITMENT DRIVE: ‘SAVE LIVES. CHANGE LIVES. JOIN FDNY EMS.’
MEET FIRE ALARM DISPATCHER RALPH SAINT-ELOI, PSAC II, BUREAU OF COMMUNICATIONS THE WRAP
On Oct. 1, the FDNY launched a new recruitment campaign to hire more EMTs and EMS trainees: “Save Lives. Change Lives. Join FDNY EMS.” Interested applicants can learn more and apply online at JoinFDNY.com or by scanning the QR code. n
podcast highlights
The FDNY celebrated 100 years of National Fire Prevention Week on Oct. 7 during its annual Fire Safety Day at Rockefeller Center. Students from schools across all five boroughs learned invaluable lessons in fire safety from members of the FDNY Fire Safety Education Unit and the FDNY fire and life safety mascots, Hot Dog and Siren. There were also demonstrations from the Department’s robotics and K-9 units. Check out a photo gallery and watch a recap of the day by scanning the QR code. n
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Honoring and remembering our fallen with FDNY First Deputy Commissioner Mark Guerra and Lieutenant Joe LaPointe
“It's a great platform for me in my life.” - JoinFDNY Podcast Episode 33
Throwback FDNY to 1992, when Mychal Judge is appointed as an FDNY Chaplain
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