FDNY Foundation Applauds “Operation 7: Save a Life” Special
January 21, 2015
The Story of the Patches
February 6, 2015
FDNY Foundation Celebrates the FDNY at the Annual New York Boat Show
The FDNY kicked off a year-long celebration of its 150th anniversary at the 110th annual Progressive Insurance New York Boat Show on Wed., Jan. 21.
Tens of thousands of boating and fishing enthusiasts start their season by attending the Boat Show, held this year at the Javits Center in Manhattan.
As a part of the show this year, visitors had the opportunity to learn about historic FDNY rescues, including the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the response to Hurricane Sandy. Additionally, visitors could take a photo with an FDNY member for the chance to win a ride on a real FDNY fireboat.
“We are a city surrounded by water,” said Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro. “It’s a natural partnership and we are so thrilled to share our historic moments with attendees to this longstanding New York event. What a wonderful way to kick off our year of celebration.”
The Progressive Insurance New York Boat Show is the world’s first and longest running boat show and gives boaters the opportunity to shop, compare and find deals on boats and marine accessories. In addition, the show offers attendees the opportunity to sharpen their boating skills with daily seminars and to participate in a boating simulator.
On Fri., Jan. 23, the Boat Show offered free admission to all FDNY employees as a part of “FDNY Friday,” an effort to thank “the greatest fire department in the world.”
“We are thrilled to help FDNY kick off the celebration of their 150th anniversary at the Progressive Insurance New York Boat Show, and to support the FDNY Foundation,” said Jon Pritko, Show Manager for the Progressive Insurance New York Boat Show. “Beyond the rich history of marine operations and rescues, we are excited to give our attendees the opportunity to meet and congratulate New York City’s bravest at the Show.”
The FDNY has a long history of success on the water. In 1866, one year after the FDNY was founded, the organization enlisted its first fireboat to fight fires from the water. Nearly 150 years later, the Department has the most sophisticated, fastest and highest water pumping capacity of any fire department in the country, with a Marine Fleet that consists of more than 20 vessels responsible for fire and emergency response along more than 520 miles of coastline and harbors.
“We are thrilled to support the FDNY and participate in this celebration of the Department’s 150th anniversary,” said FDNY Foundation Board Chairman Stephen Ruzow. “We at the Foundation are looking forward to big events like this one, as well as community events across our city this year.”
FDNY fireboats were the only source of water to fight fires burning at the World Trade Center when the twin towers collapsed on September 11, 2001. Hydrant infrastructure was destroyed and hoses were stretched to the coastline where fireboats pumped water to land for days.
Since then, the FDNY fleet has been modernized with faster, agile and more powerful boats, including “Fireboat Three Forty Three,” named for the 343 FDNY members killed in the terrorist attacks that day.
You can learn more about the FDNY’s storied history on the water at the Boat Show, running through Sun., Jan. 25. Tickets are $15. For more information, click here.
"Beyond the rich history of marine operations and rescues, we are excited to give our attendees the opportunity to meet and congratulate New York City's bravest at the Show."
