MyFDNY News: September 2025

MyFDNY NEWS

S E PT E MBE R 2 0 2 5 FIRE COMMISSIONER Robert S. Tucker FIRST DEPUTY COMMISSIONER Mark Guerra CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT John M. Esposito

We Are FDNY

MEET FIREFIGHTER LACY HIGGINS, SQUAD 8 Page 4

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FDNY REMEMBRANCE EVENTS HONOR THE 343 MEMBERS KILLED 24 YEARS AGO ON SEPTEMBER 11th, 2001 The New York City Fire Department held a day of remembrance on September 11th to honor the members who were killed 24 years ago while responding to Manhattan Box 5-5-8087 World Trade Center.

"It's a beautiful day; so was September 11th, 2001. Take a look at the pictures of each and every one of these handsome, strong, brave individuals," FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker said during the wreath-laying ceremony at the New York City Fire Museum's FDNY 343 Memorial. "Because while we talk about them as 343, they are sons, and they are dads, and they are whose shoulders I stand on every day. We are all standing on their shoulders as we go forward."

The FDNY lost 343 members on September 11th, 2001. More than 400 members have since died from World Trade Center-related illnesses.

The FDNY will Never Forget. n More on Page 2

Spotlight

PROMOTION CEREMONY FOR MEMBERS of FIRE OPERATIONS Page 2

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FDNY COMMISSIONER ROBERT S. TUCKER ADDS 39 NAMES TO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER MEMORIAL WALL On Sept. 9, the FDNY added to the World Trade Center Memorial Wall the names of 39 members who died of illnesses related to their work in the rescue and recovery efforts following September 11th.

“This year, we add 39 names to our World Trade CenMore on Page 2

plus Applause

. MyFDNY Dashboard

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SEPTEMBER 11TH SUNDOWN CEREMONY

. Podcast Highlights

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. The Wrap

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FDNY REMEMBRANCE EVENTS HONOR THE 343 MEMBERS KILLED 24 YEARS AGO ON SEPTEMBER 11th, 2001 Continued from Page 1

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FDNY COMMISSIONER

FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker and Chief of Department John Esposito honor the 343 members who made the Supreme Sacrifice 24 years ago by laying a wreath at the Firemen’s Memorial in Manhattan.

FDNY members, families and friends attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the New York City Fire Museum’s FDNY 343 Memorial. Built in 2002, the memorial was the first permanent tribute to the Department’s members who made the Supreme Sacrifice at Manhattan Box 5-5-8087 World Trade Center.

At a ceremony Sept. 9, the FDNY added the names of 39 members who have died of illnesses related to their work in the rescue and recovery efforts following September 11th to the World Trade Center Memorial Wall at FDNY Headquarters in Brooklyn.

The FDNY and the U.S. Army remember and honor those who made the Supreme Sacrifice 24 years ago on September 11th, 2001, during the annual FDNY EMS Academy September 11th Remembrance Ceremony at Fort Totten. The ceremony also pays tribute to those who have died of illnesses related to their work during the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center.

ON SOCIAL MEDIA

September 11th is a day that weighs very heavily on our Department. Visiting with our members is one of my favorite things to do, and that’s especially true on 9/11. Seeing the different firehouse memorials and hearing the stories of those we lost is incredible. They will never be forgotten.

Follow FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker on @FDNYFC

39 DID YOU KNOW? On Sept. 9, the FDNY added to the World Trade Center Memorial Wall the names of 39 members who have died of illnesses related to their work in the rescue and recovery efforts following September 11th.

MyFDNY CALENDAR

UPCOMING HOLIDAYS 13 Oct. | Columbus Day 04 Nov. | Election Day 11 Nov. | Veterans Day UPCOMING PAYDAYS 26 Sept., 10 Oct. and 24 Oct. SAVE THE DATE 08 Oct. | FDNY Memorial Day

FDNY COMMISSIONER ROBERT S. TUCKER ADDS 39 NAMES TO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER MEMORIAL WALL Continued from Page 1 ter Memorial Wall. These losses continue to mount, and our heartbreak continues to grow,” FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker said during the remembrance ceremony. “To the families here today, I say: Thank you for coming. Thank you for letting us support you. Thank you, as well, for letting us have your loved ones for so long. Something we hear at the FDNY a lot is that we are a family. This means we share losses and pain. Everyone here today understands the agony of the sacrifice your loved ones made, and they mourn with you. They vow—as we all do—to never forget.”

To date, the Department has lost more than 400 members to World Trade Center-related illnesses.

“The names we add to the wall today are not just names on a plaque. They were parents, children, friends and col-

leagues,” Chief of Department John Esposito said. “World Trade Center illness has touched every corner of this Department—firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, fire marshals, officers, chiefs and our civilian workforce. For all of you gathered here today, these names represent the people you loved. To each of you, we continue to make this promise: We will never forget them. Their courage, sacrifice and their bravery will always be a part of the history and spirit of this Department.”

The inscription on the Memorial Wall reads: “Dedicated to the memory of those who bravely served this department protecting life and property in the City of New York in the rescue effort at Manhattan Box 5-5-8087 World Trade Center.”

Watch the remembrance event and view the names of the members by scanning the QR code on Page 1. n

PROMOTION CEREMONY FOR MEMBERS of FIRE OPERATIONS The FDNY promoted members of fire operations on Sept. 2 during a ceremony at Queens College.

FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker, speaking at the promotion ceremony, said: “These promotions aren’t just new titles and new badges. They are a symbol of your dedication, your courage, your hard work. From this day forward, you will be tasked with making decisions under pressure. Leadership in the FDNY is about being a steady hand. It’s about protecting the lives of New Yorkers and the lives of your own members. It’s about continuing to guide and teach those who work under you, upholding our traditions and earning respect—not by rank, but by your actions. This is a big responsibility, but I promise you the reward is even bigger. There is no greater honor than leading the Bravest.”

Chief of Department John Esposito said: “Each promotion in this department represents years of hard work, sacrifice and commitment—not just from you, but from your loved ones, as well. With promotions come greater responsibility. It is a responsibility to lead, to set an example, and to guide the next generations of this Department. You have a responsibility to make sure everyone is prepared for whatever comes next.”

Members were promoted to the following ranks: Deputy Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief, Battalion Chief, Captain and Lieutenant. The newly promoted members were assigned to units throughout New York City. n

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(1) FDNY members, family and friends gathered at Engine 10/Ladder 10 in Manhattan for the annual Sundown Ceremony to remember the 343 members and all those lost 24 years ago. (2) FDNY members attended The Spirit of 9/12 event at Washington Market Park in Manhattan, an annual event honoring 9/11 and the unity and kindness that followed the attacks on September 11th. (3) FDNY Deputy Chief Michele Fitzsimmons spoke at the 2025 Forbes Power Women’s Summit on Sept. 10. At the event, women in leadership shared their voices on vision, innovation and action. Chief Fitzsimmons delivered remarks during the 9/11 Tribute: Honoring Bravery & Breakthroughs. (4) Fire officials from the Dominican Republic visited FDNY Headquarters in Brooklyn on Sept. 15. FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker joined NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez to talk about fire and life safety with the visiting officials. (5) On Sept. 14, FDNY Fire Marshal Charles Turner was named the Jets Veteran of the Game at MetLife Stadium before the Jets’ game vs. the Bills. Fire Marshal Turner previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps. (6) The 7th Annual Ford Classic Charity Soccer Match between the FDNY and the NYPD took place Sept. 7 at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island. The match generates funds for important charities connected to both agencies. Congratulations to the NYPD Finest soccer team for winning this year’s game! n

We Are FDNY

DEPARTMENT MEMBERS CELEBRATED AT THE 2025 FDNY FOUNDATION DINNER AND THE FIRE COMMISSIONER’S HUMANITARIAN AWARDS

MEET FIREFIGHTER LACY HIGGINS, SQUAD 8 1. What is your name, title, and how long have you worked at the FDNY? Where are you currently assigned, and what are your work-related responsibilities?

My name is Lacy Higgins. I’m a firefighter.

I’ve been with the Fire Department in Fire Operations since January 2013. I originally joined the Fire Department as an EMT in April 2008, and while I was with the EMS command, I went from EMT to medic. I served in both of those titles while I was there.

Currently, I work in the Special Operations Command, where we train on everything from Hazmat operations to technical rescues, including trench, high angle, confined space, collapse, advanced water rescue, extrication and firefighter removal. In addition to that, we respond to every fire incident on Staten Island. It’s excellent training, and it’s an opportunity for advancement that the Department offers within the firefighter rank.

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2. What called you to a life of public service at the FDNY? I’ve always had an affinity for public service. When I was in college, I took my first EMT course as a way of earning extra credits.

I watched a lot of "Third Watch" as a kid, and I was kind of drawn to this line of work. I have two older brothers and an older sister. They’re all involved in public service-related work; my sister is on the volunteer side, one brother is in the FBI—he also served in the Army—and my other brother is a police officer. We all kind of went the route of public service. I finished that EMT course, and it was one of the few things I did in college that was real-life-related, which was exciting. I enjoyed the experience and realized I could get paid to do this. I followed through with this career choice and haven’t looked back since.

3. Can you share one of your most memorable moments while working at the FDNY? At the very end of my service in the EMS command, I was a medic operating in Battalion 44, and we had a call for a 16-year-old in cardiac arrest. When we got there, everything was going exactly how we chalk it up. Fire was on scene doing CPR, we started treatment, EMTs came and assisted us and we transported him to the hospital. We didn’t get a pulse back, but he had a shockable rhythm throughout. We handed him off to the ER staff, and I didn’t know what happened to him. I went back the next day, and they didn’t know his status. They did say they transferred him to another hospital in the city.

About a month later, we responded to the same exact address. I walked into the apartment, and when the mom saw me and my partner, she just started crying. The kid was sitting up in bed; he had an internal pacemaker and defibrillator that had gone off. He was alive and well. You rarely hear what happens at the other end of the story, how everything turns out. That was the only time I’ve ever asked the status of someone I helped, and then to show up the next month to see him doing well—it was unbelievable.

4. What does We Are FDNY mean to you?

I think of people from tons of different backgrounds wanting to do good and who very genuinely want to see bad situations made better. You have people with different experiences—maybe, like myself, they just happen to take an EMT course; maybe it’s someone who has a family lineage, or maybe it’s someone who saw our recruitment poster and is like, “Oh, let me try that out.” I think it’s amazing to have people of all different backgrounds coming together to serve a higher purpose.

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

My biggest superpower, I’d say, is that I thrive working in team environments.

I’ve always enjoyed working in teams. Growing up, I played softball. When I was in college and my post-college career, I played rugby. I really like the idea of having a mission, working together, putting in the effort before games and then seeing your output on the field—and the Fire Department is very similar. You do a ton of training. You don’t have games every day, but you do a ton of training, and you’re preparing for that moment when you have to put all this work into action. I love it.

FDNY members who continue to go above and beyond were celebrated during the 2025 FDNY Foundation Dinner and the Fire Commissioner’s Humanitarian Awards on Sept. 4 at the FDNY Fire Academy on Randall’s Island. Among those honored were Lieutenant Joseph LaPointe, Assistant Commissioner Dominique Joseph, Director Pascal Etienne, Firefighter Michael Kotzo, EMTs Amber Black and Mitchell Tarnapolsky, and Retired Firefighter Darrel Patterson. Read more about the members’ Service Recognition Awards by scanning the QR code. n

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podcast highlights

Operations at a challenging lithium-ion battery fire with FDNY Battalion Chief Ryan Brito and Firefighter Michael Kotzo

“The places you’ll go!”

- JoinFDNY Podcast Episode 32

Throwback FDNY to the 1920s!

THE WRAP

6. How does your role support the public safety mission of the FDNY? You have EMTs, medics and firefighters who are doing the line work, showing up every day, literally responding to calls and interacting with people on the streets and in their homes. When someone calls 911, for them, it’s one of the most difficult days of their life. When we show up, we’re there to make their day better, and we try to fix whatever’s going on. And you know, there’s a ton of support staff in the Fire Department who make it possible for us to be in those challenging moments, to do our best to have a positive outcome. n

FDNY FIRE MARSHALS ARREST NEW JERSEY MAN FOR ILLEGAL TORCH WORK THAT STARTED 2-ALARM BROOKLYN FIRE SCAN ME FDNY Fire Marshals arrested Alonza Odom, 63, for illegally using a blow torch, which sparked a 2-alarm fire in Brooklyn on Sept. 8. The Bureau of Fire Investigation determined Odom was performing the work on the roof of 245 Hawthorne St. When firefighters arrived at the scene, there were two fire hydrants blocked. Odom parked his work vehicle directly in front of the nearest hydrant, hindering FDNY operations. The owner of the vehicle blocking the other hydrant was also issued a criminal court summons. n

After more than four decades of service to New York City, including 35 years with the FDNY, Lieutenant Joseph LaPointe retired Sept. 15. Lt. LaPointe led the Department’s Ceremonial Unit for the last 25 years, helping to shape and protect the traditions that define the standard of excellence of the FDNY. Lt. LaPointe served with unwavering strength, courage and compassion. At a walkout ceremony, FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker said: “Joe, we wish you a healthy, safe retirement. We will miss you. You will always be an indelible part of this Department, and thank you, thank you, thank you for what you have done for all of us.” n