Spadafora - McGraw-Hill Education Firefighter Exam

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Special Thanks: Brothers and Sisters at the FDNY T he author would also like to thank the following for their assistance, confidence, encouragement, patience, professionalism, and support. Peter L. Gorman, FDNY, Captain (ret.), Past President-Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA) International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Charles Chuck Wall, senior editor, McGraw-Hill Education C hief Ronald Spadafora is a 36-year veteran of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY).

He currently holds a staff position (Chief of Fire Prevention) and the rank of Assistant (4-star) Chief. Highlights of his firefighting career relating to command and control include: October 2012, Hurricane Sandy September 2005, Hurricane Katrina and Rita, New Orleans August 2003, New York City blackout October 2001-June 2002, FDNY WTC Site Safety Officer for Recovery Operations 9/11, Ground Zero Rescue and Extinguishment Operations Chief Spadafora has taught fire science curriculum (John Jay College-CUNY) for 25 years. Currently, he is teaching emergency and disaster management courses at both the graduate and undergraduate level for Metropolitan College of New York. He is also the senior instructor at Fire Technology Incorporated, lecturing FDNY firefighters in firematics for promotional advancement. He has written numerous articles for the official FDNY publication With New York Firefighters (WNYF) and is also on the editorial advisory board for the magazine. He holds a Masters degree in Criminal Justice from Long Island University (C.W.

Post Center), a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Science from John Jay College, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health Education from Queens College, CUNY. His preparation strategy and commitment to excellence has been unsurpassed throughout his career in the fire service. With more than 34,000 applicants for the 1977 NYC Firefighters Exam, he was hired as a Probationary Firefighter in the first class of 121 (Cream of the Crop) off the top of the New York City Firefighter Eligibles List (7,847 candidates) on September 2, 1978. Upon successful completion of Probationary Proby school at the FDNY Training Academy he was assigned to Engine 237 in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn.

Your Goals for This Chapter Explore the roles and duties of firefighters Learn about the risks of firefighting Understand the organization and rank system in public fire departments Learn about nontraditional roles such as EMT/paramedic and wildland firefighter E very year in the United States, fires and emergencies kill and injure thousands of Americans and destroy property worth billions of dollars. A firefighter is Americas first line of defense dealing with these hazardous situations.

Traditionally, the firefighters main role was to save lives; prevent loss of life and property; control, confine, and extinguish fires; and prevent unwanted fires. The role has expanded, however. Firefighters are now the first responders to major disasters and emergencies, the first to arrive on the scene to save lives, property, and the environment. Career firefighters work in both the public sector and the private sector. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, firefighter employment is expected, on average, to grow faster than that for other occupations.

However, keen competition for jobs is expected because this occupation attracts many qualified candidates. Approximately 90 percent of all paid firefighters are employed by municipal or county fire departments. They work in the traditional role of firefighter or in specialized roles. This chapter deals mostly with firefighters in the public sector. Those employed in the private sector are also discussed briefly.

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