Fire Commissioner Presides over FDNY Dispatchers Recognition Ceremony
September 20, 2018
On Thursday, September 20th, Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro presided over the recognition ceremony for 72 fire and EMS dispatchers at FDNY Headquarters in Brooklyn.
“Dispatchers are the initial and critical link between New Yorkers who need our help and the brave men and women of the FDNY who respond to more than 1.7 million emergencies each year,” said Commissioner Nigro. “They are experts in providing medical instructions by phone, navigating callers to safety, and assigning essential resources to support the life-saving work of our Firefighters, EMTs, and Paramedics.”
Dispatchers were recognized for their work on several notable incidents involving FDNY operations. Incidents include, the vehicle attack in Times Square in May 2017, the active shooter incident at Bronx Lebanon Hospital, a crane collapse in Long Island City that rescued trapped workers and an all hands fire involving the successful rescue of a trapped mother and child.
“Dispatching is the game of seconds and seconds count in our business,” said Chief of Department James E. Leonard. “You make sure the entire city is protected.”
Captain Hugo Sosa led a team of dispatchers in response to the Long Island City incident in June 2017. Recalling the incident, he stated, “as soon as the call came in, I knew it was going to be a tedious job, because knowing the area, it was a tight area, it was all hands on deck as with the specialized rescue units arriving on scene, and the necessity of having those units is what made everything go smoothly.”
Captain Sosa has been with the Department for 27 years, serving as a mentor for many younger dispatchers.
“Dispatchers are the brainstem of the organization – everything has to start through 911, when New Yorkers call, we have to get it right, the right ambulance, the right personnel, the right resources to the job,” said Captain Sosa. “The most rewarding part of being a dispatcher is the ability to bring the job or bring 911 to the patient or all New Yorkers.”
Dispatcher Christopher Orlando is receiving the 2016 Dispatcher of the Year award. As a seasoned radio operator, he helped dispatch and direct fire units to the all hands fire involving trapped occupants.
“I was the radio operator that day, we wanted to make sure to instruct the truck and ladder company to get to the mother and child, therefore I had to make sure, to get information correct,” said Dispatcher Orlando. “The fire units rely on us to have the address and situation so they can arrive on scene to do their job, this job requires focus, patience, ability to multitask, as many units speak to you for situational awareness.”
Dispatcher Orlando’s brother, Gregory Orlando retired after serving as a FDNY Firefighter for 35 years.
“I always had a love for the fire department, my brother retired as a Firefighter and my father was very proud when he joined the Department,” said Dispatcher Orlando. “I will be thinking about my father at the award ceremony as he passed away before I joined the Department, I am sure he would be proud we both joined the FDNY.”
For photos of the recognition ceremony, click here.