New York City Fire Department
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) has the responsibility of protecting the New York City's five boroughs from fires and fire hazards, as well as preventing and responding to accidents and disasters (such as The Station nightclub fire in nearby Rhode Island, or the trampling deaths at an overcrowded building in Chicago).
The FDNY has 11,000 personnel, all of whom must go through rigorous physical training upon enlistment. They (along with the NYPD) have been celebrated as America's new heroes since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, when 343 members of the department perished in the catastrophic collapse of the World Trade Center.
As well as undertaking firefighting and rescue activities, the FDNY also assist local hospitals in running the city's emergency medical services. The FDNY supplies paramedics and EMTs, and has ambulances stationed throughout the city.
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) has the responsibility of protecting citizens and property in New York City's five boroughs from fires and fire hazards, as well as first reponse to biological, chemical and radioactive hazards. FDNY (pronounced Fid-knee) is the largest Municipal Fire Department in the US with 11,000 personnel and faces an extraordinarily varied challenge. In addition to building types that range from wood frame to high-rise, there are the bridges and tunnels needed to move a large commuter population into and out of the city. There is also the largest subway system in the US which snakes beneath Manhattan and out to the boroughs though tunnels, some of which were originally built for America's early steam driven trains. These and the stations that dot their routes add yet another level of firefighting complexity. Old wiring in the tunnels (as well as in older building) is occasionally the cause of fires. A scarcity of water for drinking and fighting fires ultimately resulted in the transition of Brooklyn from separate city into NYC borough. The city, by then had developed a vast up-state feeder system to slake the growing city's thirst.
The FDNY ideology of agressive fire attack, grew naturally out of the building and population density that characterize the city. It was this time honored approach that led to the death of 343 FDNY members who rushed into the World Trade Center Towers following the terrorist piloted plane crashes of September 11, 2001.
In addition to firefighting, rescue and HAZMAT. FDNY stations ambulances throughout the city and supplies paramedics and EMTs. These complement ambulances provided by the hospitals and private services and help reduce emergency response times.
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Categories: Government of New York City | Fire departments