FDNY and FDNY Foundation Celebrate Grand Opening of New FDNY FireZone to Kick Off 95th Annual National Fire Prevention Week

October 5, 2020

FDNY Fire Zone is New York City’s State-of-the-Art Fire Safety Learning Center

Department Holds Special Virtual FDNYSmart Fire Safety Education Event for New York City School Children

Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro will take part in the grand opening of the new FDNY Fire Zone at 61 West 48th Street in Rockefeller Center on Monday, October 5 at 3:30 p.m. The Fire Zone is an immersive, interactive education center that gives visitors first-hand experience of what to do in a fire emergency through a variety of hands-on exhibits and multimedia presentations, including a simulated fire scene.

The grand opening of the FDNY FireZone marks the start of the 95th Annual National Fire Prevention Week. This year, a virtual Fire Prevention Day is planned for school children throughout the City. That event which – will stream live at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 5 on the Department’s fire and life safety education website – www.FDNYSmart.org – will bring together children from kindergarten to third grade across the five boroughs. Students will learn fire safety and the importance of being prepared in case of an emergency from FDNY members and the Department’s fire and life safety mascots, “Hot Dog” and “Siren.” The session culminates with Fire Commissioner Nigro swearing-in the children to be Junior FDNY members.

Joining Commissioner Nigro to mark the grand opening and start of Fire Prevention Week will be FDNY Foundation board members, including Chairman Stephen Ruzow and Vice Chairman Robert Zito.

The new FDNY FireZone replaces an older venue that opened in 2000, and offers a larger space to accommodate more visitors, presentations, and state-of-the-art technology to make fire and life safety learning come alive. Among the highlights are an immersive educational theater, interactive games, a full-scale fire truck, and lively and informative tours led by FDNY firefighters.

“There is no better time to celebrate the grand opening of our new FDNY FireZone than the start of Fire Prevention Week. We are grateful to the FDNY Foundation, which partners with the Department to educate all New Yorkers about the importance of fire safety,” said Commissioner Nigro. “Most importantly, our new, larger FireZone and programs such as today’s Virtual Fire Prevention Day enable us to accommodate more school children and residents who may be at higher risk for fire.”

“This grand opening culminates two years of careful planning and design work,” said Chairman Ruzow. “The Foundation Board collaborated with the Department’s fire safety experts to create this truly remarkable space for learning about fire safety and the work of the FDNY. I am grateful to the many donors that helped make the new FireZone a reality.”

The FDNY FireZone is currently open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 11AM – 4PM with social distancing and safety measures in place.

WHO: Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro; Chief of Department John Sudnik; FDNY Foundation Board Chairman Stephen Ruzow and Vice Chairman Robert Zito.

WHERE: 61 West 48th Street (Rockefeller Center); Manhattan

WHEN: Monday, October 5, 2020 – 3:30 p.m.