The city's new Fire Department commissioner is also the agency's highest-ranking uniformed officer. Mayor Bloomberg selected FDNY Chief Salvatore Cassano — who has 40 years of departmental experience and numerous citations for bravery — to replace retiring Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta. more ›

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta further explained his decision to resign at the end of the year. He told the Daily News, "47 years in city government is enough," while saying to the NY Times, "The reason I am leaving now is I have decided, after 47 years, that if I am ever going to get to those other things, like teaching and writing, and some traveling. I better get to it now." more ›

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta is stepping down at the end of the year. The AP reports, "Scoppetta took over just months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack that devastated the FDNY, killing 343. He said in a letter to staff Thursday that he took the post because he wanted to help the city recover from the tragedy. He said the biggest challenge of his job was to rebuild the ranks while preparing to respond to another attack." more ›