VIDEOS: FDNY battles massive supermarket fire that spread to several buildings in Brooklyn; 6 injured

Firefighters battled a massive blaze that broke out at a supermarket and spread to surrounding buildings in Bushwick, Brooklyn Wednesday night, leaving seven people injured and dozens displaced. NewsCopter 7 was over the scene at 1385 Bushwick Avenue, where smoke and flames could be seen billowing from the supermarket, encompassing ladders that were extended from FDNY fire trucks. FDNY officials say the fire started in the supermarket, which was open at the time, and then spread to four other buildings surrounding it. Residents say that the store is brand new and opened less than a year ago. More than 250 firefighters responded to the scene within minutes. Firefighters tried to enter the supermarket to put out the fire but quickly retreated, shifting to a surround and drown operation.
WABC-TV ABC 7 New York

Fire Commissioner lauds Mayor, City Council’s support of enhanced safety measures for FDNY EMS members

Mayor Eric Adams signed two bills May 1, 2024, to enhance safety measures for FDNY’s frontline emergency medical workers. Sponsored by New York City Council Minority Leader Joseph Borelli, Introduction 126-A provides body armor to EMS employees and establishes requirements that protective equipment meet ballistic- and stab-resistance standards of the National Institute of Justice. Introduction 127-A requires FDNY provide de-escalation and self-defense training to EMS workers. The FDNY has been providing ballistics vests and self-defense training to all EMS members for more than 20 years, but the new legislation now makes the Department legally required to do so. “FDNY EMS members respond to calls day and night, delivering crucial emergency medical care to New Yorkers,” Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said.
City of New York Fire Department

Remembering New York’s Bravest: National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend

With all the chaos that surrounds us, it's great to be able to pay tribute to some real heroes? The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) is putting together the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend on May 4th-5th and several firefighters from New York will be recognized. This event will be honoring 89 firefighters who passed away in 2023, along with 137 others who lost their lives in previous years. This includes firefighters from New York, like Thomas Anderson Jr., Jason Arno, and Peter Dromms. Thomas Anderson Jr., part of the Fire Department City of New York, suffered an illness related to the 9/11 attacks. Jason Arno lost his life battling a fire, and Peter Dromms passed away from complications after a heart attack.
WNBF-FM 92.1/AM 1290 Binghamton

Watertown chiefs ask for more firefighters, utility task trailer & ballistic vests

Watertown’s fire department is asking the city to hire four more firefighters, saying that’s the most affordable way to run the department. Chief Matt Timerman and Deputy Chief Michael Kellogg laid out their budget for the department as the city council continued budget discussions Tuesday night. The department has 68 line personnel right now. Timerman says adding four new firefighters would save the city $50.000 to $75,000 a year. He notes there would be little to no savings in the first year after the hires. That’s because of additional costs for training and equipping them. The department is also looking to buy a utility task trailer for certain rescues. It has frequently borrowed UTVs from other agencies over the past three years.
WWNY-TV CBS 7 Carthage

South Farmingdale Home Badly Damaged In Fire; 50 Firefighters Respond

A South Farmingdale home was damaged in a fire on Monday afternoon, Nassau police said. Officers were called to a West Oak Street residence at 2:50 p.m., where they saw a fire on the first floor. All residents were out of the home before police arrived. The South Farmingdale Fire Department, along with the East Farmingdale, Bethpage, and North Massapequa fire departments, extinguished the flames. Approximately 50 firefighters were on scene. No injuries were reported, police said. The building sustained moderate structural damage along with variant degrees of smoke, fire, and water damage, police said. The Nassau County Fire Marshal and Arson Bomb Squad detectives were on scene. Police are investigating the fire's cause.
Farmingdale Patch

Funeral Set For West Islip Fire Department Honorary Chief

Islip Fire Department Honorary Chief Ronald W. Pfuhl, 81, died on April 27, according to Overton Funeral Home. Pfuhl was a life-long member of Hook & Ladder Company #1, the first company in the Islip Fire Department. He is the father of ex-chief Ronald W. Pfuhl and earned the title of Honorary Chief after serving the fire department for over 50 years. The fire department shared the news of Pfuhl's passing on its Facebook page on Sunday, writing: "It is with deep regret that the chiefs office announces that Honorary Chief and 62-year member Ronald W. Pfuhl has answered his last alarm. Funeral arrangements will be announced when they become available. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Pfuhl family."
Brentwood-Central Islip Patch

$24.3 million bond referendum passes, vote makes way for new Thiells fire station

VIDEO: A $24.3 million bond referendum passed in Rockland County on Tuesday night. The vote makes way for a new Thiells firehouse. The vote passed with 236 people in favor and only 25 against it. New land will be purchased for the main fire station on Route 202. Fire officials say the annual cost to the average homeowner will be about $19.
News 12 The Bronx

Firemen’s Memorial Monument in Manhattan Park Defaced

The Firemen’s Memorial in Riverside Park, which holds great importance to the FDNY, was defaced recently by a vandal, police confirmed to West Side Rag on Tuesday. Someone broke off the nose of one of the two women depicted in the monument at West 100th Street and Riverside Drive on the night of March 17 with an unknown object, before fleeing the scene, police said. There has not been an arrest and the investigation remains ongoing, NYPD added. The memorial, which was designed by H. Van Buren Magonigle and Attilio Piccirilli and erected in 1913, has become an important gathering place for members of the FDNY and their families, and is one of the locations across the city that hosts a large gathering on September 11 each year.
West Side Rag