Results tagged “enginecompany”

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the Fire Department, saying that FDNY exams in 1999 and 2002 discriminated against black and Hispanic candidates. Black and HIspanic candidates fail the exam at much higher rates, and currently, the blacks and Hispanics make up only 7.5% of the FDNY's 11,000 firefighters. The NY Times notes that the fire departments of LA and Philadelphia are more than 40% black or Hispanic.

The city and the Uniformed Firefighters Association have agreed on a new two year contract. The deal raises firefighter salaries more than eight percent and increases the pay of starting firefighters by almost $10,000. Members working in hazardous material and special rescue units will see a 12% increase in pay.

A strange fight has broken out between the FDNY and the firefighters' union. The union, Uniformed Firefighters Association, says that the FDNY won't allow firefighters to put up stickers of American flags, photographs of family or colleagues lost on September 11, mass cards or other seemingly innocuous items on their lockers. The FDNY says that firefighters are actually allowed to put up flag stickers or other "inoffensive material" and that the debate - which now involves lawyer Ron Kuby fighting for the union's rights - was unnecessary. Of course the FDNY would think that - it's not good when the press and public hears things like this from Kuby: "We entrust New York City firefighters with our lives and the lives of those most precious to us, and we don't trust them to properly decorate a locker?"

A boy fatally crossed paths with a firetruck responding to a call about an unconscious person collided yesterday in Elmhurst. Twelve year old Michael Kandathil was running across the street to get the mail when a truck from Engine Company 289 was traveling west on the eastbound lane of Hampton Street. The truck's driver, who was very distraught, was not charged, but Kandathil's death is under investigation. Witnesses suspect that the boy may have slipped on the wet pavement. Also, a double parked car may have "obstructed the view of both the driver of the fire truck and Michael as he crossed the street," according to the NY Times. A police officer told the Post, "You know who's at fault is the person who double-parked the car. That's why we give tickets to double-parked cars - to prevent things like this from happening."

The Fire Department unveiled its memorial to the firefighters who "fell" and "who carry on" yesterday afternoon. The 56-foot long bas-relief is on the side of Engine Company 10 and Ladder Company 10 at 124 LIberty Street. The NY Times described it as a "full panorama, centered on the flaming towers, with heroic and humbled firefighters on either side." Almost immediately after the unveiling, family members were rubbing paper against the memorial's names. Fire Chief Peter Hayden made this pointed remark about the memorial: "We've had empty promises from empty suits, but the Fire Department has fulfilled its promise."