"The FDNY Foundation has been working year round to earn funds that go directly to public safety initiatives," said Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta during the event at the New York Hilton. "They are contributing in a very tangible way to the safety of all New York’s citizens."

Presented annually, the Humanitarian Awards recognize individuals for outstanding and continuing service to the New York City community.

Mr. Sullivan has a personal and professional dedication to the FDNY Foundation, including helping fund the development of the Fire Department's electronic command boards and supporting the FDNY Fire Zone’s educational programs. After visiting the quarters of Engine 4/Ladder 15, Mr. Sullivan said that he noticed the company's 9/11 memorial did not include contributions from his hometown's fire brigade, the London Fire Service. So during the Awards he presented Commissioner Scoppetta with a firefighter’s helmet, uniform dress cap and certificates from the London Fire Service and Metropolitan Police for Engine 4/Ladder 15. ”[FDNY members]” are true professionals," said Mr. Sullivan. “We are reminded tonight that we have true public servants in our midst who are willing to risk their lives for the public's safety.”

Mr. Zuckerman has helped promote two of the FDNY's fire safety message by donating valuable advertising space for the Foundation’s fire safety campaigns in U.S. News & World Report and the New York Daily News. He also has helped champion the outstanding work of the Department’s brave members by regularly featuring fire and EMS personnel in the Daily News “Hero of the Month” column. ”I feel honored, yet awkward, accepting this award, for the people who really deserve to be honored are all of you, who go out every day and protect this city and provide safety for the residents of this City,” Mr. Zuckerman said.

Receiving this year's Commissioner's Service Recognition Award was the FDNY’s Office of Recruitment and Diversity, including Director Michele Maglione and Captain Hector Tyler. The FDNY High School for Fire and Life Safety received the Commissioner Thomas Von Essen Fire Safety Education Award. Mr. Von Essen announced at the ceremony that next year the award will be renamed the Chief William Feehan Award for Excellence in Schools, honoring the late chief’s commitment to education.

”You represent the best of the City and have been pillars of support for the FDNY,” said Chairman of the FDNY Foundation Steve Ruzow. Established in 1981, the FDNY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that supports the life-saving work of FDNY members through various initiatives and sponsors a variety of educational and public awareness programs designed to reduce the number of fires and fire fatalities. In the last year, the Foundation has launched the largest fire safety campaign in FDNY history, donated more than 150,000 smoke alarm batteries to the FDNY for the largest battery giveaway in City history, partnered with Leary Firefighters Foundation to fund new High-Rise Simulator at the FDNY Fire Academy and given nearly 9,000 fire safety presentations given under the Fire Zone on the Road program.

As part of the annual “Change Your Clocks, Change Your Batteries” campaign, the FDNY Fire Safety Education Unit will be distributing 50,000 9-volt batteries and fire safety materials at 25 locations this week. The citywide campaign is aimed at promoting fire safety awareness among New Yorkers and reminding them about the importance of having a working smoke alarm in their home. The batteries were donated by the FDNY Foundation.

Click here to find a FDNY Fire Safety Event near you.

Last month, the FDNY and FDNY Foundation unveiled the largest fire safety campaign in Department history called Sound the Alarm. Funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the cutting-edge educational campaign was developed in the wake of a tragic fire at 1022 Woodycrest Ave. in the Bronx on March 7, 2007, that killed nine children and one adult.

March 4 - Queens

• Jamaica Center, Parsons Blvd and Archer Ave train station, 4 pm to 6 pm
• Jamaica, 179th St and Hillside Ave train station, 4 pm to 6 pm
• Flushing, Main St and Roosevelt Ave train station, 4 pm to 6 pm
• Jackson Heights, Roosevelt Ave and Broadway train station, 4 pm to 6 pm
• Corona, Junction Blvd and Roosevelt Ave train station, 4 pm to 6 pm
• Astoria, corner of Ditmars Blvd and 31st St, 4 pm to 6 pm

Wednesday, March 5 - Brooklyn

• Borough Park, 49th St and 13th Ave, 12 pm to 2 pm
• Sunset Park, Eighth Ave and 50th St, 12 pm to 2 pm
• Bay Ridge, Bay Ridge Pkwy and Fifth Ave, 12 pm to 2 pm
• Coney Island Terminal, Stillwell and Surf Ave, 4 pm to 6 pm
• Broadway Junction Complex, Jamaica Ave and Fulton St, 4 pm to 6 pm
• Atlantic Terminal, Atlantic and Flatbush Aves, 4 pm to 6 pm
• Crown Heights, Utica Ave and Eastern Pkwy train station, 4 pm to 6 pm

Thursday, March 6 - Staten Island

• K-Mart Shopping Center, 2660 Hylan Blvd, 12 pm to 3 pm
• Pathmark Shopping Center, 1351 Forest Ave, 3 pm to 6 pm
• Staten Island Mall, 2655 Richmond Ave, 3 pm to 7pm
• Staten Island Ferry Terminal, 4 pm to 6 pm

Friday, March 7 - Manhattan

• Corner of 350 West 125th St, 12 pm to 2 pm
• Union Square Park,14th St and Broadway, 12 pm to 2 pm
• West 168th St and Broadway Train Station, 4 pm to 6 pm

Saturday, March 8 - Manhattan

• Hilton Times Sq, 234 West 42nd  St, between 7th and 8th Aves, 11 am to 2 pm

Saturday, March 8 - Bronx

• Fordham Plaza at 430 East Fordham Road, 12 pm to 2 pm
• East 149th St and Grand Concourse, 12 pm to 2 pm
• East 177th Street and Grant Circle train station, 12 pm to 2 pm
• Pelham Bay Park and Bruckner Expressway train station, 12 pm to 2 pm
• East 161St St and River Ave at Yankee Stadium, 12 pm to 2 pm

For further information on these free educational programs or to schedule an event, please contact the OFFICE OF FIRE SAFETY EDUCATION at 718-281-3870 between the hours of 9 AM and 5 PM, Monday to Friday.

That is why ABC-7 is proud to bring Operation 7: Save a Life to the community. This year marks WABC-TV's 10th year of Operation 7: Save a Life, devoted to increasing public awareness about fire safety, hazards in the home and the need for emergency planning.

As part of the effort, WABC aired the special, "Operation 7 Save a Life: Prepare and Protect" hosted by Bill Ritter. The FDNY Foundation is proud to support Operation Save a Life, and to provide our visitors with the following life-saving safety tips. Just click on the links below to prepare and protect your family.

• 10 Fire Safety Tips
• Smoke Alarm Safety
• Carbon Monoxide Detector Safety
• Fire Prevention
• Escape Planning
• Practice Your Escape

For more information, visit WABC's Operation Save A Life web site.

WABC/7 Operation Save A Life

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta joined Mayor Michael Bloomberg, President of the Leary Firefighters Foundation Denis Leary and FDNY Foundation Vice Chair Andrew Guarino on January 23 to break ground on a new high-rise simulator at the Fire Academy.

“High rise fires are a notoriously complex and dangerous part of the job,” Mayor Bloomberg said. “This new simulator will enable us to train our firefighters under the most extreme conditions.”

The $4.5 million simulator - which is scheduled for completion in 2009 - will be equipped with mock residential, office and commercial layouts to reproduce real-life fire conditions and help firefighters improve their skills in fighting fires in high-rise buildings.

The 4,000-square-foot structure will be a four-story addition to an existing building at the Fire Academy and will feature a fire and flashover simulator, a central smoke system, a dry standpipe system, mock elevators and stairways, a simulated fire command station and video hookups on each floor for real-time review and instruction.

The simulator will replicate the heat and gases that are often encountered by firefighters during high-rise fires that can quickly spread and create hazardous conditions. This training will improve firefighters’ ability to predict what they will encounter during real fires.

“The whole purpose [of the simulator] is to recreate real conditions in a safe, controlled environment,” said Commissioner Scoppetta.

The unveiling came on the three year anniversary of the tragic day when the FDNY lost three firefighters in two separate fires -- Lt. John Bellew, Lt. Curtis Meyran and Firefighter Richard Sclafani.

Funding for the simulator was provided by the FDNY Foundation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the City as well as $3 million from the Leary Firefighters Foundation.

It will become an important part of the Fire Department’s newly expanded 23-week training program for probationary firefighters. Since 2004, more than $60 million has been dedicated to upgrading the facilities at the Fire Academy.

“Training firefighters is like training a football team … but this is a team that always shows up first, so the more we give them, the better off we all are,” said Mr. Leary. “As a guy who fights fake fires, I have a lot of respect for the people who do it for real.

• Heating
• Electrical
• Electric Space Heaters
• Electric Blankets
• Turkey Fryers
• Clothes Dryers
• Smoke Alarm Maintenance
• Carbon Monoxide (C0) Hazards and CO Detector Maintenance

• Clean the lint screen/filter before or after drying each load of clothes.
• Clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct periodically.
• Clean behind the dryer, where lint can build up.
• Replace plastic or foil, accordion-type ducting material with rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct.

• As turkey is placed in the hot oil, oil my spill from the fryer onto the burner causing a fire.
• Turkey fryers can easily tip over, spilling the hot oil onto anyone nearby.
• Most turkey fryers do not have an automatic thermostat control. With no temperature control the oil could overheat to the point of combustion and cause a fire.
• The turkey fryers, lid and handles get extremely hot and may cause burns.
• Partially frozen turkeys placed into the fryer can cause a spillover effect.

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has decided not to safety certify any turkey fryers due to the increasing number of fires and burn injuries related to their use.

• Only use electric blankets that have the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Mark.
• Replace all electric blankets that are more than 10 years old. 99% of blanket fires have been causes by blankets 10 years or older.
• Purchase blankets with an automatic safety shut-off. The device will shut off the blanket if the temperature gets too high.
• Always buy new electric blankets; second-hand blankets may not be safe.
• Replace any electric blanket that has broken or frayed cords or has scorch marks.
• Avoid tucking the electric blanket in at the sides of the bed.
• Avoid placing other blankets or comforters on top of an electric blanket while in use.
• Electric blankets also present a burn risk to those who cannot feel heat or are unable to react appropriately. Therefore, never place an electric blanket on a baby, small child or anyone with physical limitations that may prevent them from turning the control off or removing the blanket from their body.

Preventing Fires: Real Trees

• Test for freshness by gently grasping a branch between your thumb and forefinger and pulling it towards you. Very few needles should come off.
• Shake or bounce the tree on its stump. If an excessive amount of green needles fall to the ground, the tree may not be fresh.
• Buy your tree early. Most tree lots receive only one shipment of trees. Trees don’t become fresher sitting in a lot.
• If you don’t plan on putting the tree up right away, make a one half inch fresh cut off the bottom of the trunk and place the tree in a 5 gallon bucket of warm water. Store the tree in cool temperatures, but above freezing.
• If the tree has been stored for more than three days, prior to putting it up, make another one inch cut off the bottom of the trunk and immediately place the tree into a stand that holds at least a half-gallon of water.
• Keep the water level above the cut and check the water level daily. (Initially, a fresh tree may soak up a gallon of water per day.)
• No water additives such as aspirin, sugar, or commercial fire retardant are necessary. Plain tap water is best.

Placement and Decorating of Christmas Trees

• Place the tree away (at least 3 ft) from heating system air registers, fireplaces and other heat sources.
• Try to position the tree near an electrical outlet to minimize use of extension cords.
• Adequately support the tree with a sturdy stand designed not to tip over.
• Do not place the tree where it may obstruct or block access to exits.
• Carefully inspect new and used lights for cracks or frayed wires. Do not use lights with broken bulbs.
• Only use tree lights that have the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Mark.
• Do not use electric lights on metallic trees (use remote spot or reflective lights).
• Do not place electrical cords under rugs or in paths of travel.
• Do not use lighted candles or other flaming devices on or near your tree.
• Whenever possible, use decorations made with flame-resistant, flame–retardant or non-combustible materials.
• Unplug the tree lights when out of the room and before going to sleep.
• Even if you keep your tree properly watered, it will naturally start to dry out.
• Discard the tree immediately after the holiday.

• Candles are a traditional part of holiday decorating and rituals. However, statistics indicate that home candle fires peak annually on Christmas Day, New Years Day and Christmas Eve.  If you burn candles for decorative or ritual purposes, click here to make your make your home candle-safe for the Holidays.
• Christmas trees are enjoyed in many homes as the traditional centerpiece of the Holiday celebration.  However, both real and artificial trees pose an increased risk of fire. Christmas tree fires do happen. Defective lighting, including electrical cords and plugs, cause almost half of all Christmas tree fires. If you plan to celebrate the Season with a Christmas tree, click here for Christmas tree safety tips.
• The Holidays are a time for celebration and that means more cooking.  In order to drastically reduce your risk of a cooking fire, follow this recipe for safe Holiday cooking.
• The Holidays are also a time for entertaining family, friends and neighbors. If a household member or guest is a smoker, click here for precautions to prevent a smoking-related fire in your home during the Holidays.
• Did you remember to change your batteries in your Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector when you changed your clock for Daylight Savings Time? If not, do so now.
• home, or notify your landlord to install one if you rent.

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