I have been tasked with writing a series of articles for FireRescue1 concerning fire operations. I want to use my first column to introduce myself and also explain some of my thoughts on certain subjects. In future columns, I will discuss subjects relating to fire operations based on my knowledge of the subject, from my initiation into probationary firefighter school to my actual experience on the fire ground.

I know there are many of you out there who could do exactly what I am doing in writing these articles. In fact, there are many of you who are more qualified to write on this subject than myself; I feel lucky to have gotten the nod. Because I value an open exchange of ideas, I encourage you to submit feedback to my columns, whether positive or negative.

There are many ways to get the job done, and some of the information is subjective. I will present the information and add some of my opinions based on my experience. I am a firm believer in getting the information out there, especially if it serves to prevent a death or injury or helps make you more effective on the fire ground. Fire operations are dynamic; life and death decisions must be made with split second precision under the utmost amount of pressure. Having a solid base of knowledge makes those decisions a little easier.

Instead of relying on the little biography box at the foot of the article, I wanted to use most of this first column to give you a sense of my background. I am a battalion chief in the New York City Fire Department and must first mention that I want to thank each and every one of you in the fire service. I thank you for the help, the support, the letters, the visits, the thoughts and prayers during and after the events of 9/11. I could go on and on, but words could never express my or my department's gratitude. With your support, we have gotten back on our feet and continue to serve the citizens of New York City in the professional and dedicated way we have for the last 150 years.

My career started off in Brooklyn, with E-318 in Coney Island. My first response on my very first day was dramatic to say the least. We had a second-floor fire in a wood-frame dwelling — kids trapped with fire venting from two windows in the front. I will never forget stretching the first hose line and waiting for water while the truck forced the door. I felt like a lot of you did at your first fire, I'm sure — I truly thought I might not survive the encounter. Fortunately, it went like clockwork: The truck rescued two unconscious children, we put the fire out and everyone went home safe. I was still in shock when we got back to the firehouse and could not believe the events that had just transpired.

Looking to gain more experience, I transferred to the truck; L-166 was a little more active than the engine and enabled me to broaden my experience. Although many fire personnel believe that you should spend an extended amount of time in the engine, I believe there is room for debate on that theory. It is ultimately up to the individual to decide what path is best for their career and to pursue it accordingly.

After two years, I was, like many of you, looking for more work. There was a squad company in Brooklyn, a manpower unit called Squad Company No. 1, which responded to all structural fires throughout the borough of Brooklyn. I contacted the captain for an interview and he detailed me over to evaluate my skills.

It was at Squad Company No. 1 that I honed my skills as a firefighter. During the '80s, we were responding to over 2,000 working fires a year. It was so busy that it seemed we were going from fire-to-fire during the busy months of the year. The squad had an apparatus and tools that allowed us to perform both engine and truck work. If the chief needed us to ventilate, search or stretch a line, we would do it. We operated with a simple mission: "Get to your position and accomplish your duties."

After nine years on the job, I was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and assigned to the 15th Division in Brooklyn, working in a section of New York City, which, were it a city, would be the 4th largest in America.

After a year with E-248 in Flatbush, I decided Special Operations was where my heart was and decided to take a detail back there. I covered the Special Operations Command for about a year, working on rescues and covering for squad officers who were on vacation. I was exposed to all areas of the city and any conceivable type of structure; it allowed me to get a vast amount of experience at all different types of fire operations.

After honing my rescue skills for a year with Rescue Company No. 4 in Queens, I accepted an invitation from Chief Raymond Downey to command the Special Operations Command Technical Rescue School for a year. I was exposed to all different rescue disciplines and provided the training in these disciplines to members of the Special Operations Command.

Upon promotion to captain, I was assigned back to SOC and continued to cover captain vacancies in the five rescue and seven squad companies. Chief Downey had the vision to foresee that in the future we would become more involved in technical rescue operations and created the new squads to provide the manpower to cover these assignments.

Due to the events of Sept. 11, 2001, I was reassigned to Rescue Company No. 1 in Manhattan. Captain Terry Hatton had been killed and the company was in need of a new captain. I was honored by this reassignment, which was made with the best interests of the department in mind. I knew it would be a challenge, but that's part of being a firefighter.

Although I was only there for a short time, it was one of the most memorable periods in my career. Putting a two- or three-room fire out in a wood-frame structure seemed like a cakewalk when confronted with a 10,000-square foot area of fire. Those were some of the most challenging fires I've ever encountered.

My career continued in the SOC Command upon my promotion to battalion chief. The FEMA/USAR Team, NY-TF1, had been devastated and needed rebuilding. My assignment for the first three months as a battalion chief was to coordinate the rebuilding of the team. For three months, I worked with very highly motivated and dedicated individuals for both the fire and police service to get the team back up and running.

I am currently assigned to the Rescue Operations Battalion, and I respond to every two-alarm or greater fire in the city. I assist the incident commanders in any way they deem necessary. I respond and supervise all technical rescue incidents that occur throughout the city every day, including incidents such as building collapses, confined space rescues, high-angle rescues, scuba operations and trench cave-in collapses.

Due to the vast area of the city and the number of people who live here, I am confronted with all types of technical rescue and fire operations on a daily basis, allowing me to gain experience and pass that information on to you.

I hope that you will share with me any experiences you've had operating at a unique or a routine response; those experiences are valuable as learning tools and I want to assist in getting the information out. I look forward to working with you to spread the knowledge.