The FDNY High Rise Operations Symposium
Fire companies from around the world attended the FDNY's intensive and informative High Rise Operations Symposium in March. The attendees were welcomed by Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, Chief of Department Salvatore Cassano, Chief of Operations Patrick McNally, FDNY Foundation Chairman Stephen Ruzow, Retired Chief of Fire Prevention Howard Hill, and Chief of Training Thomas Galvin.
Fire companies from throughout the country and around the world came to learn from FDNY Chief Officers currently operating as Incident Commanders - experts in high-rise building fires and emergency operations. Among the far-flung representatives were Hong Kong, Canada, England, and Ireland. To the left, Chief Edward Kilduff, FDNY Foundation Executive Director Jean O'Shea, and FDNY Chief of Department Salvatore Cassano welcome the Northern Ireland Fire Rescue to the Fire Training Academy at Randall's Island in New York City.
Sixteen Chief Officers gave informative and interactive presentations to the sold-out audience on various topics relating to high-rise operations, including emergencies during the construction phase, use of the building's systems, strategies and tactics for the Incident Commander, solving evacuation and medical problems in high-rise buildings, and the FDNY High-Rise Wind-Driven Fire Study.
Attendees were provided with a comprehensive Reference Manual and Wind-Driven Fire CDs to share the lessons learned with their companies.
Just outside the lecture auditorium, twenty fire and life safety vendors lined the walls, including Draeger, Scott Health & Safety, K.O. Fire Curtain (pictured here), PBI Performance Products, Panasonic, amongst others. Throughout the two days, the vendors provided demonstrations and valuable ideas about products and equipment for the bustling audiences to consider and bring back to their own companies.
