MyFDNY News: April 2026

MyFDNY NEWS

FDNY COMMISSIONER LILLIAN BONSIGNORE INVITES DEPARTMENT TO CPR DAY AT ITS HEADQUARTERS IN BROOKLYN

To help commemorate the 30th anniversary of the merger between New York City EMS and the FDNY, the Department held a CPR Day on March 30 inside the Commissioner Robert O. Lowery Auditorium at FDNY headquarters in Brooklyn.

Staff chiefs, commissioners and civilian personnel took part in the training sessions, learning hands-only CPR and how to respond to sudden cardiac arrest.

“Every second counts in a cardiac emergency, and hands-only CPR empowers anyone to step in and potentially save a life. At the FDNY, we are strengthening a culture of readiness that extends far beyond our firehouses and EMS stations and into every community we serve,” FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said.

The training sessions were led by American Heart Association-accredited instructors from the FDNY Mobile CPR Training Unit.

Early CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) have been

APRIL 2026

FIRE COMMISSIONER Lillian Bonsignore

FIRST DEPUTY COMMISSIONER Daniel Flynn

CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT John M. Esposito

We Are FDNY

MEET EMT CALVIN STONE, INSTRUCTOR, BUREAU OF COMMUNICATIONS

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DEPARTMENT HOLDS JOINt GRADUATION AND PROMOTION CEREMONY FOR PROBATIONARY EMTs AND EMS OFFICERS

The FDNY held a joint graduation and promotion ceremony on March 19 for the third class of 2025 probationary emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and the promotion of EMS officers. The event was held at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn. More on Page 2

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The number of weeks the latest class of probationary EMTs spent honing their skills at the EMS Academy at Fort Totten prior to their graduation on March 19.

Continued from Page 1

shown to dramatically increase the chance of survival in victims who experience sudden cardiac arrest. The first few minutes after a person goes into cardiac arrest are the most critical. Bystanders who witness or encounter a person in cardiac arrest are the ones who can maintain blood flow to the vital organs by performing chest compressions and im-

proving a person’s chance of survival.

The FDNY Mobile CPR Training Unit offers compressions-only CPR training throughout the city and has trained more than 200,000 New Yorkers to perform bystander CPR, including more than 80,000 high school students.

For more information, visit FDNYSmart.org. n

DEPARTMENT HOLDS JOINt GRADUATION AND PROMOTION CEREMONY FOR PROBATIONARY EMTs AND EMS OFFICERS

Continued from Page 1

“You are now part of something bigger than yourself. You are part of a Department built on service, sacrifice and teamwork. You are part of the FDNY family. Together, you will rely on one another, support one another and stand together through the challenges and triumphs of this job,” FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said. “To our newly promoted officers and our newest EMTs: Today marks the beginning of a new chapter. The work ahead will not always be easy, but it will always be meaningful. The people of this city depend on you, and the FDNY is behind you every step of the way.”

Chief of EMS Operations Paul Miano said: “You are joining a profession built on something sacred. A profession built on trust. When someone calls 911, they are calling for help. They are calling for someone who will show up without judgement and treat them with the

In a new Public Service Announcement (PSA), the FDNY is reminding New Yorkers about important electrical safety information.

So far in 2026, there have been 29 fire deaths in New York City, which is up from the same time in 2025. Nine of the 29 fatalities have been from fires caused by electrical issues.

Here are some electrical safety tips:

• Never overload power strips or

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dignity and compassion that everyone deserves. That someone is now you.”

The probationary EMT class trained for 16 weeks at the EMS Academy at Fort Totten. Training skills include CPR, patient medical and trauma assessments, oxygen and ventilation skills, management of hypotension and fractures, spinal immobilization and emergency childbirth, and emergency vehicle operation.

At the ceremony, the FDNY promoted the first woman in FDNY history as the Assistant Chief of EMS Operations. Kathleen Knuth, a 22-year member of the Department, will work with Chief Miano in overseeing the more than 4,000 EMTs, paramedics, EMS officers and civilian employees in the Bureau of EMS Operations.

The probationary EMTs and EMS officers will be assigned to units throughout New York City. n

(1) Enemies on the ice, but teammates for the City of New York: The FDNY took on the NYPD in the 52nd Annual Heroes Hockey Game on March 29 at UBS Arena. Congratulations to the NYPD on their win! (2) Innovation that protects New York’s Bravest: On March 31, Firefighter Joel Owhe was awarded the NYC Hayes Innovation Prize for leading the Department’s Job Safety Analysis (JSA) application. The internal tool digitized and standardized the process for documenting, reviewing and analyzing safety practices across training operations. (3) Members of the Department’s Bureau of Fire Prevention took part in specialized training with CaptiveAire Systems on March 26 in Pennsylvania. The hands-on instruction focused on system design, installa tion and inspection practices, strengthening members’ operational knowledge. This training supports the Department’s ongoing efforts to enhance fire safety and protect the public. (4) FDNY members participated in Real Heroes Day on April 15 at The Armory in Manhattan. The annual event celebrates the everyday heroes who help keep New York City safe. (5) EMS Station 3, in coordination with Bronx Community Board 9, hosted a Community Safety Day on April 11 at Station 3. More than 75 community members received training in hands-only CPR, emergency first aid techniques and fire safety. (6) The FDNY proudly recognizes Fleet Laborer Gerald Florin, who is an indispensable member of the Department’s Fleet Services. In addition to his regular duties handling and operating Fleet’s two 4,400-gallon diesel fuel trucks, Florin performed snow removal during the two snowstorms that hit the city in January and February, ensuring vehicles could enter and leave for repair and that staff had parking when they arrived for work. n

MEET EMT CALVIN STONE, INSTRUCTOR, BUREAU OF COMMUNICATIONS

1. Please introduce yourself—your name, your ti tle and the year you joined the FDNY.

My name is EMT Calvin Stone, and I’ve had the honor of serving with the FDNY since June 2018.

2. Where are you currently assigned, and what are your main responsibilities?

I am presently an instructor with the Bureau of Communications, assigned to PSAC 2.

3. What inspired you to choose a life of public service with the FDNY?

Serving as an EMT gives me the chance to demonstrate to my daughter the importance of compassion, courage and the value of helping others in times of need.

4. Can you share one of your most memorable moments on the job?

One of my most memorable moments as an EMT instructor was when a former student reached out to thank me after successfully completing the radio dispatch class. Knowing that our training sessions helped them perform with confidence reminded me why I’m passionate about teaching: to inspire, mentor and empower others to excel in their roles.

5. When you hear the words “We Are FDNY,” what does that mean to you?

When I hear the words “We Are FDNY,” I think of teamwork, family, strength and unity—the core values that define who we are and how we serve.

6. What would you say is your “superpower”—a strength or skill you bring to your work?

My superpower as an instructor is the ability to infuse the classroom with positive energy, creating an environment where students feel encouraged, confident and ready to learn.

7. How does your role help advance the FDNY’s mission of public safety?

As an instructor, my role directly supports the FDNY’s mission of public safety by ensuring our members are highly trained, prepared and capable of responding effectively to any emergency. Through instruction, mentorship and realistic training scenarios, I help EMS personnel develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to operate safely and efficiently. By promoting professionalism, discipline and continuous learning, I contribute to a culture of safety and excellence that protects both our members and the public we serve. n

FUNERAL FOR FORMER FDNY PARAMEDIC SORFFLY DAVIUS

SHIRTWAIST FACTORY FIRE

The FDNY marked the 115th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire—one of the deadliest fires in New York City’s history—with a commemoration on March 25 in Manhattan.

The fire, which started on the upper floors, spread rapidly and claimed the lives of 146 people—most of them women. More than 700 people were in the building at the time of the fire, many unable to escape due to locked exits, inadequate fire escapes and no sprinklers. The FDNY joined the New York City Labor Council for the annual commemoration. n

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