Contact: Colleen Roche or Dwight Williams (212) 788-2958
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen today presided over a graduation ceremony at Brooklyn College for 150 probationary New York City firefighters. Joining the Mayor and Commissioner Von Essen were First Deputy Commissioner William Feehan, Chief of Department Joseph Casaburi, and the families and friends of the graduates.
"This is a very proud day for New Yorkers because firefighters represent the very best in all of us," Mayor Giuliani said. "Their courage and commitment are an inspiration and their personal sacrifice is truly heroic. As members of one our most noble professions, firefighters risk their lives on a daily basis to protect the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers."
The Mayor saluted the recent life saving actions of two graduates. "A little more than a week ago, probationary Firefighters Robert Crinnon and Sami Asfar were leaving the annual Police/Fire Department Charity Hockey game, when they came upon a car accident in the parking lot. Without hesitation, Firefighters Crinnion and Asfar ran to the scene and put to use the emergency response skills they learned at the Fire Academy. As EMTs arrived on scene, the two probies assisted them by maintaining stabilization of the patient and loading him into an ambulance. To Firefighters Crinnion and Asfar and to all of today's graduates, you truly have the respect and admiration of the entire City."
"For 28 years, I have had the honor and privilege to be a part of the New York City Fire Department family, which you will soon experience fully out in the field, fighting real fires with the experienced veterans of the Department," said Commissioner Von Essen. "Last year, Mayor Giuliani gave me the esteemed honor of serving as Fire Commissioner. As you begin your careers, I can assure you that both the Mayor and I fully support you and the mission you have solemnly accepted- to selflessly serve the people of the City of New York. You should also know that there is no greater service than to be a firefighter, and to risk your lives so that others may be safe from the ravages of fire."
Today's class of graduates, fresh from 13 weeks of training in firefighting, fire suppression techniques and the emergency medical procedures required under the Department's Certified First Responder-Defibrillation (CFR-D) program, received certificates from the Mayor and Fire Commissioner. Graduates receiving special recognition were F.F. Joseph Collins, who was awarded the Valedictorian Certificate, F.F. Kevin Meyer, who was awarded the Class Diploma and F.F. Daniel Kinzel, who was awarded the Physical Fitness Award.
In 1996, fire related civilian deaths reached a 37-year low (149 deaths -- the lowest total since 1959), a dramatic reduction due to the efforts of firefighters and the fire prevention efforts of the Department. The Mayor also remarked that in the year after bunker gear was introduced, there was a remarkable 70% drop in the number of burn injuries to firefighters. Several firefighters lives' have been saved by bunker gear and hundreds more protected from serious burn injuries.
The Mayor also highlighted the dramatic reduction in the FDNY Bureau of Emergency Medical Service response time by nearly one minute in the first year of the 1996 merger, an effort aided by the CFR-D program.