MAYOR GIULIANI AND FIRE COMMISSIONER VON ESSEN CELEBRATE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF ENGINE COMPANY 216 IN BROOKLYN
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen today celebrated the 125th Anniversary of Engine Company 216 at 187 Union Street in Brooklyn.
"For 125 years the courageous firefighters of Engine Company 216 have been valued members of the Brooklyn community," said Mayor Giuliani. "And today, we celebrate their 125th anniversary of its establishment on November 30, 1872. Over the years they have responded to emergencies with bravery and compassion -- safeguarding the lives and properties of their neighbors, despite the dangers they face each day. While there are many differences between today's Fire Department and the Department of over a century ago, there will always be a common bond of bravery and heroism that unites them all.
"Today we also remember two brave firefighters of Engine Company 216 who died in the line of duty -- Captain William Baldwin who died on January 14, 1880 and Lieutenant Raymond Schiebel, who died on March 5, 1995. We remember them and all those who died in the line of duty while risking their lives for the safety of the citizens of New York," the Mayor concluded.
Over the last four years, the Giuliani Administration and the New York City Fire Department have made a concerted effort to reduce the number of fire fatalities in the City. In May of 1994 bunker gear was issued to all members of the New York City Fire Department, affording the members of the department the protection and security they need to rescue victims -- reducing the number of serious injuries and burns to firefighters by 70 percent.
The introduction of the Certified First Responder Program (CFR-D) has furnished firefighters with basic medical training and life-saving defibrillators, enabling the Department to provide New Yorkers with a vital link in the chain of survival. Through its Fatal Fire Team/Smoke Detector Give-Away Program, the Fire Department distributes smoke detectors to one- and two-family homes.
As a result of these efforts, in 1996 the City experienced a 37 year low in civilian fire-related deaths. Since January of this year, civilian fire fatalities have fallen by 12 percent, and by 23 percent over the last four years. In conjunction with these advances, last week the Fire Department relocated its headquarters and 911 Emergency Center to the state-of-the-art MetroTech Center in Brooklyn.
The Fire Department also plays a vital role in the Mayor's Quality-of-Life Nightclub Enforcement Task Force. This multi-agency group targeted 71 nightclubs in Brooklyn and Queens for inspection over the past year to ensure that all City and State fire regulations are followed. The Task Force hopes to prevent future tragedies such as the 1990 fire at the Happy Land Social Club in the Bronx, where 87 people died.
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