The New York City Fire Department tomorrow will begin formal training and distribution of the Personal Safety System (ropes). The first training class will include both firefighters and fire officers from the 6th and 7th Divisions (Bronx, Harlem) and Special Operations Command (SOC). They will be taught the components of the system and its proper deployment and use. Each training session is eight hours in length. Training sessions will take place twice a day, seven days a week at the Fire Department’s Training Academy on Randall’s Island. Within eight months, the Department anticipates the completion of training for all firefighters and fire officers.
Immediately following the January 23, 2005 fatal fire in the Bronx, Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta ordered the development of a ropes system for all members in the Department. The Fire Department secured $11 million in emergency funding for this project. In June 2005, the Department announced the selection of the Personal Safety System. Developed by firefighters and fire officers and members of the Department’s Research and Development group, the system includes a harness, lightweight rope, descent control device, hook and harness bag.
WHO: Chief of Training Thomas Galvin, Chief of Safety Allen Hay, Captain Michael Hayes and Captain Thomas Dolan (Project Leaders); and FDNY members receiving training on the system
WHAT: Training and Distribution of Personal Safety System (Ropes)
WHERE: FDNY Training Academy, Building 12
WHEN: Tuesday, October 4, 2005
TIME: 12:30 PM – Formal Announcement/Q&A
1:00 PM – Distribution of Personal Safety Systems
1:30 PM – FDNY Members demonstrate new equipment
2:00 to 4:00 PM – Classroom training portion - OPTIONAL