Release #059-97

Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958, Dwight Williams (212) 788-2972
or Michael Regan (718) 694-2025 (FDNY)

"The opening of Division 13 will allow the Fire Department to address the specific needs of this distinctive and very special New York City community, which includes areas as diverse as John F. Kennedy Airport, the Rockaway Peninsula, the major commercial centers of Jamaica and the large residential areas in Eastern Queens," Mayor Giuliani said. "Senior level supervision of Queens battalions and firehouses will be doubled allowing for closer supervision and advanced training of firefighters. Now a deputy chief will be on duty to respond much more quickly to emergencies in southeast Queens."

"For the past two years, the Fire Department has conducted special outreach to residents of southeast Queens, including an aggressive education program promoting fire safety in the home," Mayor Giuliani added. "Firefighters in uniform have distributed fire safety messages to residents, and teams of firefighters have visited community groups, schoolchildren and seniors to personally communicate the important message of fire safety. And in conjunction with Borough President Claire Shulman, the Fire Department has also distributed more than 10,000 smoke detectors to community residents."

Mayor Giuliani explained that the new division will be funded out of savings from recent management changes at Fire Department Headquarters. Eight administrative staff positions have been replaced with deputy chiefs who will have front line firefighting responsibilities.

"I am very pleased to join Mayor Giuliani and Fire Commissioner Von Essen on this occasion," said Borough President Shulman. "The command reorganization being announced today will add an additional layer of fire protection for the residents of our borough, and extend efforts already underway by the Fire Department to address the problem of fatal fires in several of our communities."

Since 1994, the Fire Department has instituted several initiatives in southeastern Queens, particularly the Community Board 12 area, in response to the increase in fire activity. There are several reasons for the high number of fatalities, including the type of construction of homes--most of which are single- and two-family dwellings of wood construction with open staircases and no compartmentalization. Another serious factor seems to be lack of awareness of basic fire safety principles.

"As fireground commanders, Deputy Chiefs are highly trained and uniquely qualified in all aspects of firefighting tactics and safety," said Commissioner Von Essen. "With their arrival more quickly at the scene of fires, as well as major emergencies, they will provide greater protection, not only to residents of southeast Queens, but also to the firefighters who are putting their lives on the line to protect life and property."

Commissioner Von Essen explained that in addition to responding to fires, Deputy Chiefs in the city's nine Divisions oversee administrative functions, operational planning, and training of firefighters and fire officers assigned to units under their command.

Despite a citywide decline in fire-related deaths in 1996, from 173 in 1995 to 149 in 1996, which marked a 37-year low, southeast Queens experienced an increase in fire fatalities during the past few years.

Fire Department initiatives in southeast Queens to address the increase in fatal fires includes the following:

• Fatal Fire Reduction Program: In addition to the distribution of smoke detectors, firefighters instructed community groups and organizations on fire safety as well as the correct method of the installation and maintenance of smoke detectors.

• Fatal Fire Teams: The Fire Department has sent teams of firefighters and Department officials into communities to discuss the nature of specific fatal fires and the techniques that might prevent such fires in the future, as well as fire survival techniques. The teams operate throughout the City, but currently their top priority is southeast Queens.

• Fire Cap/Fire Safety Education: The Fire Cap Program, which teaches children that firehouses are safe havens, was expanded in the target area to include scheduled visits to schools by firefighters and fire safety instructors for fire safety presentations. The presentations are designed to create a link between the local schools and the local firehouse. Children practice home fire safety drills, learn fire prevention tips and get familiar with the firefighters both in and out of their protective gear, so they won't be afraid if they should encounter a firefighter in a smoky hallway coming to save them.