Firefighting is a dangerous job which is why Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano recently joined with Yonkers Fire Commissioner William Fitzpatrick, members of the Yonkers Fire Department, and New York State Fire Instructors in a program highlighting urban search and rescue techniques.
.“Our prime mission and priority are the safety of our firefighters and our residents,” said Mayor Spano. “This training gives our firefighters the advanced technical skills to save lives during potential disasters when other rescue tactics aren’t enough.”
Twenty-five Yonkers firefighters assigned to Rescue 1 or Squad 11 participated in the elite 80-hour training course to enhance their skills to respond during potential structural collapses and natural disasters
Yonkers Fire Commissioner William Fitzpatrick said,“This specialized 80 hours of training is a unique opportunity for our members to hone their skills for building collapse. We are not only better prepared to respond within the City of Yonkers but regionally to support other communities as well. The federal Homeland Security funding helps us be better prepared for these types of events.”
Funding for the training was provided by The Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), a U.S. federal grant program designed to help high-risk, high-density (urban) areas improve their prevention, protection, response, and recovery capabilities. Firefighters received specialized State instruction that prepares them to locate, extricate, and provide assistance to victims trapped in complex or collapsed environments. They learned how to safely shore up and stabilize damaged structures, use tools to cut or move debris, and work as a team to collaborate on rope rescues.
“We applaud the City of Yonkers and the Yonkers Fire Department for conducting this intense training offered by the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control, said New York State Fire Administrator Jim Cable.