FDNY Chiefs Study LA Wildfire Damage to Strengthen NYC Fire Prevention!

Race Day Live  A team of FDNY fire chiefs visited Los Angeles last week to learn how to handle wildfires better.

They saw the damage caused by the Palisades and Eaton fires and spoke with experts to gather ideas for managing brush fires in New York City.

FDNY Chief John Esposito described the scenes as “dramatic and overwhelming,” with blocks of burned homes and cars while a few houses remained untouched.

Chief Fire Marshal Daniel Flynn compared the devastation to Breezy Point in Rockaway after Hurricane Sandy.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department hosted the FDNY chiefs, showing them equipment like special emergency pickup trucks carrying water into areas larger fire trucks cannot reach.

This experience will help FDNY’s new brush fire task force, created after a drought caused a rise in fires across New York City.

As reported by NBC News, the Palisades fire was 79% contained at 23,448 acres, and the Eaton fire was 95% contained at 14,021 acres.

These fires, which started on January 7, are among California’s most destructive, killing 28 people. Governor Gavin Newsom has pledged $2.5 billion to aid recovery.

Read More:

• 29 Students Treated After Exposure to Sulfur Dioxide in San Jacinto Crash
• New York City Apartments Offer Rentals Starting at $903 along with Pet-Friendly Amenities

FDNY leaders plan to upgrade their equipment and provide wildland firefighting training for task force members.

They aim to use lessons from Los Angeles to prevent and manage future fires in New York, especially during October, a dry month prone to brush fires.

Chief Esposito emphasized the importance of learning from large-scale incidents, saying, “You can only say you were surprised the first time.”

FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker praised the collaboration, saying it would help FDNY handle similar emergencies in the future.

Reference