By Diane Feldman, Managing Editor
Higher math
From Chip Killian in Illinois: “We’re sitting around the kitchen table just before shift change and someone says, ‘Hey, we only need one more call to break one thousand for the year.’ The lieutenant says, ‘How many do we have now?’ “
Staggering stats
The next time you think your department is busy, consider these stats, from NewYork City Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta (WNYF, 3rd/2003): During the Blackout in August, FDNY handled 2,248 calls for fires and medical and nonmedical emergencies on August 14 and 2,809 such calls on August 15. The typical summer day in NYC would have yielded 1,000 calls. EMS responded to 5,299 calls on August 14 and 5,021 calls on August 15. On a typical summer day, EMS responds to approximately 3,000 calls.
A well-deserved honor
Deputy Chief Ray Downey, FE and FDIC advisor and longtime friend who was killed at the World Trade Center on 9/11, has received yet another much-deserved honor. The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which opened this past summer, includes Downey’s bio and photo as part of its Family Tree of Life. He was one of only 100 Americans chosen for inclusion in the exhibit.
Are you award-worthy?
There are two prestigious awards for which deadlines for nominations are drawing near. The Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award recognizes an individual for exemplary courage and valor during a rescue operation. The deadline for nominations is January 6, 2004. Nomination forms are in Fire Engineering, on this Web site, and at www.courageandvalor.org. The Fire Engineering Training Achievement Award recognizes an individual for extraordinary accomplishments in fire service training. Nomination forms are in Fire Engineering and on this Web site. The deadline for nominations is December 31, 2003. Both awards will be given out at FDIC 2004, in Indianapolis, Indiana, April 26-May 1.
Send your “horror stories”
Send your Fire Prevention Week Open House “horror stories”-past or present–to the Yenta for a future column.
If you have a tidbit for the Fire Yenta, e-mail dianef@pennwell.com.
Diane Feldman is a 14-year veteran of Fire Engineering; she has spent the past 13 years as managing editor. She has a B.A. in English/communications. Previously she was an editor at the American Management Association in New York City.
Past Yentas
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
7/18/03
6/20/03
5/30/03
5/16/03
5/2/03
4/18/03
3/21/03
3/7/03
2/21/03
2/7/03
1/24/03
1/10/03
