Industry News

FDSOAADDS “MEMBERS ONLY” SECTION TO WEBSITE

The FDSOABoard is excited to announce a new Members Only area to your website. You will have to be logged into the website to view this area.

One new feature of this area is a Document Library where we will collect and store documents that our members may use in their own departments. The Document Library will store documents encompassing various topics to include Behavioral Health, Safety Officer specific items, Emergency Vehicle Technician, Physical Fitness and Vehicle Accidents to name a few. Our goal is to build a robust library over time that will allow members to research various policies without having to “reinvent the wheel”.

We are requesting your help in filling the library. If you have any documents that you would like to share, please let us know. If you have a topic that you would like to see represented, let us know as well.

Click on the Member Document Library Link to access the document library. Reminder, you will have to log into the website to view this area. This is accessible for all Individual, Department and Corporate members. If you have anything that you would like to share, please send them via email to documents@fdsoa.org. After we receive your document, our team will review, and then add to the library if appropriate. You will receive an email reply regarding the status within a couple of weeks. This is a new area, so please be patient as we receive, review and post documents. This information is provided for educational, and reference purposes only. Members are reminded that some materials may be copyrighted and are subject to legal ramifications. The FDSOAmakes no representations as to the contents and does not endorse any specific positions. Points of views and opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the FDSOA.

LONGISLAND METRO FIRE/EMS EXPO COMINGTO LONGISLAND IN FEBRUARY

The Islip Town Fire & EMS Museum & Education Center and the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs (NYSAFC) have joined together to deliver a new emergency services exposition and educational event on Long Island.

The Long Island Metro Fire/EMS Expo will be held from February 11-13, 2022, at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y. The comprehensive event will feature exhibits of new apparatus, tools, equipment, products, technologies, and services, as well as 15 one-hour educational seminars for emergency services personnel.

Lecturers will include Chief Thomas Richardson, Deputy Assistant Chief John Norman, Battalion Chief John Salka, Captain Michael Dugan, and Captain Mark Gregory of the FDNY, Saratoga County EMS Coordinator Mike McEvoy, and many more! EMS CEU seminars will also be available for certified EMS providers.

Expo hours will be Friday, February 11 from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m., Saturday, February 12 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., and Sunday, February 13 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Seminars for first responders of all ranks will also be held Friday through Sunday.

Attendee registration is $20 per person, per day and includes entry to both the expo and seminars. Tickets are available online through Ticketmaster or can be purchased at the door. Parking is free!

This event will benefit the museum and the association, supporting their shared mission to serve the fire and emergency medical services personnel of Long Island and New York state. “The State Chiefs leadership is looking forward to bringing this new educational opportunity to Long Island, and we’re thrilled to be working with the volunteers at the Islip Town Fire & EMS Museum on this event that will benefit all of New York’s fire and EMS responders,” said NYSAFC President Robert Kloepfer, Jr. To learn more and register, visit the NYSAFC website at www.nysfirechiefs.com. Questions can be emailed to liexpo@nysfirechiefs.com.

Lifelong Members Preserve the History of the Bellport Fire Department

Fire News’ Publisher Frank Trotta, and Executive Editor Tim Edwards recently took a trip to the Bellport Fire Museum.

For those who don’t know, the original Bellport Fire House was built in 1893 on South Country Road. In 1937, it was moved to the rear lot facing Woodruff Street to make way for the new updated building. By 1975, when it was time to expand, the building was either to be demolished or moved.

The fire department was able to have it moved to a lot in the historic district of the village on Bell Street, the former site of a historical barn, which had been moved to the Bellport Brookhaven Historical Society property just across the way. The land is now leased from the Village of Bellport at no cost to the department.

The building sat for years, with the eventual hopes of creating a historical fire museum, the dream of member Ed Bishop, who died in October 2015. Picking up where Bishop left off, member, past-Chief and current Commissioner Richard Terwilliger, and lifetime department and historical committee members Bill Hermus, Jr., and Pete J. Didio, decided to take on the project during the Covid-19 lockdown. They started the renovations in November and finished in March 2021.

During the time in between, the building was thoroughly rehabbed and restored.

Housed inside the museum, the four antique trucks collected by the department, including a 1935 Chevrolet American LaFrance hose truck; a 1943 Chevrolet WWII surplus truck, a 1981 Chevrolet pumper; and an 1893 hand-drawn hook-and-ladder carriage, are all waiting to be used in parades and special ceremonies. The Gleason and Bailey carriage was fully restored in 1973, and hand painted.

The upstairs of the museum is now fully renovated, with painted white-and-green walls, display cases and photo murals, a backroom and a bathroom. Pictures include almost every fire throughout the years, including the 1963 Bellport High School Fire, 1972 Lace Mill fire in Patchogue, the 1983 Grucci Fireworks Plant explosion, and the 1995 wildfires. Also among the collection are historical pieces, including trophies, flags, gear, memorabilia and the evolution of the radio system. The space was formerly a recreation room for members.

Asoft opening was held recently, with intentions for the museum to be open to the public on special occasions and on some weekends to be announced. - Fire News photos by Bryan Lopez

This is the first feature of an on-going series, wherein Fire News will highlight fire museums on Long Island who are preserving the history of the fire service.

Lt. Joseph PDiBernardo 3-Day Seminar

Let No Man’s Ghost Return to Say, “His Training Let Him Down!”

Each yearthere are more and more attendees at the Lieutenant Joseph P. DiBernardo seminar. The seminarmust be doing something right. With three solid days of hands-on training and education, once again this seminarwas a huge success. The best feeling in the world is when everyone leaves at the end of the weekend saying, “This seminarwas awesome ... see you again next year!” Plan on attending next year’s seminar! - Fire News photos by Ron Monteleone, Alexa Yoos and Dennis Whittam

Page 76, Fire News, January 2022 Obituary

Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro Announces the Death of Assistant Chief Alvin Suriel from WTC-Related Cancer

Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro today announced the death of Assistant Chief of EMS Alvin Suriel, a 32-year veteran of Emergency Medical Service, who succumbed to World Trade Center-related cancer on December 7, 2021. Chief Suriel, who was 52-years-old, is the 264th member of the FDNYto die of WTC-related illness.

“Al Suriel spent three decades providing pre-hospital emergency medical care throughout our city. He saved an untold number of lives in his time as an EMTand Paramedic, and through his inspirational leadership in our bureau of EMS,” said Commissioner Nigro. “He was there for New Yorkers on September 11th, he was instrumental in our Department's extraordinary response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and he administered outstanding care to every single patient who ever called for his help. His dedication to duty was immeasurable and his loss is a painful blow to our entire department.”

Chief Suriel most recently served as Assistant Chief of EMS Operations — the first Hispanic member ever appointed to this rank. He was promoted to the position in May 2019. In this role, he served as the Chief of Field Operations, assisting in the supervision of 4,600 Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, EMS Officers, and civilian employees. He oversaw operations, planning, strategic initiatives, and logistics in the Bureau of EMS. He worked closely with the department's Counseling Services Unit. Here, he led the way in developing the largest active member peer support group in the nation to address the mental health needs of the FDNYEMS workforce during the COVID19 pandemic.

Chief Suriel began his career in 1989 as an Emergency Medical Technician first assigned to Harlem. He completed his paramedic training in 1993 and was assigned to Stations 14 and 26. He later became paramedic coordinator for the Bronx. As a Paramedic on September 11, 2001, Suriel responded from the EMS Academy at Fort Totten in a convoy of FDNYEMS members to the World Trade Center. He spent many days at the site, taking part in the Department’s World Trade Center rescue and recovery efforts.

Following his promotion to Lieutenant in 2005, he served as Citywide Paramedic coordinator for EMS Operations. He rose through the ranks quickly, promoted to Captain in 2010, Deputy Chief in 2013, and Division Commander of the Bronx in 2015. He was appointed Deputy Assistant Chief of EMS Operations in 2017. He also graduated from the FDNYFire Officers Management Institute and completed the West Point Counterterrorism Leadership Program.

Chief Suriel was a frequent contributor and editorial advisor for FDNY Pro and Pro EMS — official training publications of the FDNY — penning articles on leadership and mental health. He also recently took part in an FDNYPro Podcast discussing EMS Operations’ response to the Covid -19 pandemic.

In the interview, he stated, “I started in 1989 in the streets of a Harlem as an EMT, actually started as a summer job. I loved it. In 1993 I upgraded as a Paramedic. I decided to become an officer in 2005. Since then, slowly but surely, I have been climbing the ranks to where I am now. My primary responsibility is that of overseeing field operations We all support what I feel is the backbone of this department, which is our EMTs, Paramedics and Officers.”

Chief Suriel is survived by his wife and two daughters. Funeral arrangements are pending.

East Meadow’s Michael L. Finkelman Remembered

The Board of Commissioners of the East Meadow Fire District recently installed a plaque in memory of former Commissioner Michael L. Finkelman, who passed away in November 2019 at the age of 65.

Commissioner Finkelman’s widow, Christy Lou, his sister Jodi Ratner, and the Board of Fire Commissioners were on hand as the plaque was unveiled at the district’s offices, where other memorials are on display to honor the Board of Fire Commissioners members who died while in office.

Commissioner Finkelman is best remembered for dedicating his life to helping others. He followed his father Nelson’s footsteps and joined the East Meadow Fire Department’s Ladder Company Two, subsequently serving as company Captain for two terms and later as Chief of Department in 1991 and 1996. Michael was elected to the Board of Fire Commissioners in 2005, winning several reelections until his passing in 2019. In addition to his service to the fire department, Commissioner Finkelman was a longtime instructor at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy and was a Nassau County Police Officer for more than 30 years. (Left to right): Commissioner John J. Priest; Commissioner James Surless; Jodi Ratner; Christy Lou Finkelman; Commissioner Carey Welt; Commissioner William Neill; and Commissioner Keith J. Hoffman. - Fire News photos by Jay Zinger

Obituary

Terryville’s William Wesley, Jr.

William Charles Wesley, Jr., was born in Queens on August 18, 1965, and unexpectedly passed away on October 20, 2021.

Devoted son of William C. Wesley, Sr., and Rosemarie Wesley (Barone). Beloved brother of Keith, Mark (Dawn), and Kristine; adored uncle to four beautiful nieces Kaitlyn, Amanda, Brianna and Gabriella.

William was dedicated to the Port Jefferson Station community where he lived, worked and volunteered for nearly four decades. He worked for the US Postal Service for over 30 years where his infectious smile and warm generous heart left a lasting impression on all those he met. He served with the Terryville Fire Department for over 25 years in numerous positions including Chief of the department. William was admired, loved, and respected by all those in the community he served for so long.

He was an avid sports fan of the New York Rangers, New York Jets and the Boston Red Sox, as well as enjoying NASCAR races with his brothers. While cheering on his teams, he also had a passion for collecting rare sports memorabilia.

William will be greatly missed but forever remembered and cherished. Rest easy Chief, as you guide us from the floor above. - Fire News photos by Dennis Whittam