“The Rock” FDNY Training Facility, Randall’s Island, NY
We were thrilled to see our grant funds to the FDNY Foundation’s K-9 units in action yesterday! These K-9s are all rescue dogs and have been trained by Fire Marshall handlers to perform highly specialized functions for FDNY. There are now six K-9s that are trained to search in rubble for trapped victims or identify accelerants in arson investigations or both. Their skills are so fine, they can pinpoint where the accelerant originated and even find accelerant after it has been burned. They are helpful in quickly clearing a building by doing room to room searches and other life saving tasks. Bucca, named after a FDNY Chief who perished in 9/11 is one of those accelerant trained K-9s.
Pictured (in Tan trousers) are Fire Marshals who are the handlers of the K-9 Unit. Center left: Chief Fire Marshal Michael Durkin, Chief of Bureau of Fire Investigation, Jean O’Shea, Executive Director, FDNY Foundation, Robert Brull, President of the Marilyn Lichtman Foundation, and the last gentleman on the right is Fire Marshal Joseph DiGiacomo, Head of the K-9 Unit. To find out how you can support this wonderful organization, please visit https://www.fdnyfoundation.org/donate/