FDNY Offers Summer Safety Tips with Public Service Announcement Featuring Mascots
July 8, 2015
FDNY Foundation and FDNY Join New York Liberty for FDNY Appreciation Night
July 14, 2015
FDNY Foundation Celebrates Generous Donation to Keep Firefighters and City Safer
The FDNY Foundation joins the FDNY in thanking Con Edison and National Grid for a $150,000 donation to purchase portable gas detectors for firefighters and to fund a public education campaign.
Con Edison and National Grid donated $100,000 to purchase 175 total portable gas detectors to equip FDNY Engine Companies. The devices detect and measure the ranges of natural gas and oxygen, alerting users to potentially dangerous concentrations.
“I want to thank Con Edison and National Grid for this generous donation, and for responding to and addressing gas leaks with us when they occur,” said Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro. “With these devices Firefighters will operate more safely and better protect the public, and we’ll reach many more New Yorkers with important life safety messages on gas odors and emergencies.”
Additionally, Con Edison has donated $50,000 to fund a public education campaign on gas safety. Through its educational website, FDNY Smart, and programs funded by the FDNY Foundation, the FDNY is able to spread messages of fire and life safety – such as gas safety – throughout the city.
“Con Edison is proud of its longstanding partnership with the FDNY protecting New Yorkers each and every day, and we are committed to continuing our joint aggressive public awareness campaign to encourage people to report gas odors immediately,” said Con Edison Chairman and CEO John McAvoy. “Working with the FDNY and the FDNY Foundation to educate citizens is critical in reaching as many people as possible, and we’ll continue that work while also equipping more firefighters with gas detectors to keep them and the public safe.”
“As the proud son of a retired New York City firefighter, I know firsthand the critical role that the FDNY plays in keeping our local communities safe. National Grid partners with the FDNY by providing e-learning training, testing emergency response plans, and conducting safety drills to help them protect the public and respond safely in the event of a natural gas emergency,” said Ken Daly, President, National Grid New York. “We are pleased to be able to provide critical gas detector equipment to improve the safety of our emergency responders and the communities we proudly serve.”
The FDNY has seen a 68 percent increase in gas/odor emergencies in the last year, largely because of public response to two major gas explosions, one in the East Village in March, 2015 and one in East Harlem in March, 2014, which killed eight people. In 2014, FDNY units responded to nearly 18,000 more gas/odor emergency calls than in 2013.
“It is thanks to the generosity of partners like Con Edison and National Grid that we are able to continue to help the FDNY keep its members safer and educate the public on how to keep themselves safe in the event of an emergency,” said FDNY Foundation Chairman Stephen Ruzow. “We take this responsibility very seriously as we know these efforts continue to save lives.”
New York City, the FDNY, the FDNY Foundation and Con Edison encourage New Yorkers to immediately call 911 to report any suspected gas leaks.
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"Con Edison is proud of its longstanding partnership with the FDNY protecting New Yorkers each and every day, and we are committed to continuing our joint aggressive public awareness campaign to encourage people to report gas odors immediately. Working with the FDNY and the FDNY Foundation to educate citizens is critical in reaching as many people as possible, and we’ll continue that work while also equipping more firefighters with gas detectors to keep them and the public safe."
