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What happens if a member of the FDNY is injured at work as a result of defective equipment? Suppose, for example, that the SCBA fails, or a thumb gets crushed by the apparatus door that has a new and hazardously placed handle. Is the City of New York liable to the firefighter for any resulting […]

In October, a jury in Pittsburgh dismissed a suit brought by four firefighters against a siren manufacturer whose siren they blamed for hearing loss. The firefighters claimed the siren, manufactured by Federal Signal Corporation, was defective because it was unreasonably unsafe. The trial lasted two weeks, but the jury deliberated for less than two hours […]

In September, a solemn ceremony in Bethpage, Long Island honored FDNY firefighter William Tolley, who died in the line of duty last April. Tolley was recalled as an American hero and memorialized with a sign at the intersection of Crestline and Acme Avenues that reads “F.D.N.Y. Firefighter William N. Tolley Way.” But six months after […]

Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York President Gerard Fitzgerald approved of Mayor de Blasio’s recent decision to return the fifth firefighter to 15 engine companies throughout the city. But, according to the UFA website, he stressed that “it’s time for the City to reinstate the fifth man citywide.” As Fitzgerald sees it, all engines […]

Even in this era of intense partisan fighting, Democrats and Republicans agree on the importance of protecting the people who risk their lives to protect us. This commitment became law with the passage of the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act, which will help us understand why firefighters experience such high rates of cancer. Recently signed by […]

The Uniformed Fire Officers Association of New York City, or UFOA, recently partnered with digital health firm Qardio and Mount Sinai Health in a program to help firefighters monitor their blood pressure levels without having to take time off from their jobs. The partnership follows a nine-month hypertension pilot involving select firefighters who were monitored […]

Ambulances are empty and response times have increased as New York City’s fire department deals with a serious shortfall in its emergency medical technician force. Many factors have contributed to this dangerous situation. Long hours, high-intensity work and the possibility of serious injuries can discourage people from taking or remaining in these important jobs. Making […]

Residential property owners looking to sell their homes and landlords must make sure that their smoke detection systems comply with a new state law that takes effect April 1, 2019. Smoke alarms now must run either on 10-year sealed batteries or be hardwired to the home. This measure was actually passed in 2015, but New […]

The popular pastime known as the escape room has triggered serious safety concerns, leading the FDNY to shut down several outlets throughout the city. These attractions give visitors the sensation of being trapped in a locked space from which they must escape using their own wits. However, inspectors have found that the danger in some […]

Many engine companies within the FDNY will be operating with fewer firefighters now that New York City has invoked a contract clause reducing crews from five to four people. Though the trucks can be manned by four firefighters, the affected engine companies used the fifth as a “wild card” to increase safety for both colleagues […]