FDNY dedicates disaster training site in honor of deputy chief killed on 9/11
Special Operations Deputy Chief Raymond Downey was an expert on building collapses and technical rescues
By Leila Merrill
NEW YORK — This week the FDNY dedicated a fire academy disaster training site in honor of a deputy chief who was killed on 9/11.
The site includes a broken fuselage of a plane, crushed cars and piles of concrete, according to CBS New York. Many of the objects were donated.
"Here they got a parking garage collapse with heavy concrete. We have a blind shaft elevator. We get that all the time where somebody's stuck in the elevator shaft," FDNY Battalion Chief Joe Downey said.
My father was a very humble man, I am sure he is smiling up there - FDNY Deputy Chief Charles Downey at today’s dedication of the FDNY Deputy Chief Raymond Downey All Hazards Disaster Training Site. Read more: https://t.co/BOsIVNnbAV pic.twitter.com/9z5smKBIPl
— FDNY (@FDNY) June 9, 2022
The battalion chief's brother, Chuck Downey, is deputy chief of the fire academy.
Their father was Special Operations Deputy Chief Raymond Downey. The "master of disaster," an expert on building collapses and technical rescues served in New York and elsewhere in the U.S. when called upon for incidents such as the Oklahoma City bombing.
Raymond Downey had served FDNY for 39 years when he was killed on 9/11. He was helping others escape from the fire and collapse at the World Trade Center, according to FDNY.
Learn more about the FDNY Deputy Chief Raymond Downey All Hazards Disaster Training Site at the FDNY Fire Academy. Read more: https://t.co/j0R1fWp23r pic.twitter.com/46XIPbrRuW
— FDNY (@FDNY) June 9, 2022
Downey established the FDNY Technical Rescue School.
“He was a visionary on technical rescue and spent years sharing his knowledge through intense training with members of the Special Operations Command and the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces. The All-Hazards Disaster Training Site is dedicated to Deputy Chief Raymond M. Downey in honor of his sacrifice and his devotion. To prepare the FDNY and first responders across the USA to protect others during natural and man-made catastrophic events,” the department posted on Instagram.
Family members, colleagues and friends gathered Thursday as a rubble pile was named the Deputy Chief Raymond M. Downey All-Hazards Disaster Training Site.
"He would say this was too much for him. Very proud," said his widow, Rosalie Downey.
"He cared deeply for the safety of his members and for the public he served," said John Hodgens, acting chief of department for the FDNY.
Thousands of FDNY members will train at the site each year.
This broken fuselage of a plane & pile of rubble is the latest training opportunity at the @fdny. Today it was named the Deputy Chief Raymond M. Downey All-Hazards Disaster Training Site. Downey was a beloved building collapse& technical rescue expert who died on 9/11 @CBSNewYork pic.twitter.com/DmWIiI6Z2U
— Andrea Grymes (@AndreaGrymesTV) June 9, 2022