Spare no expense for the safety of our Bravest
Stamford, Conn.: Uniformed Firefighters Association President Andrew Ansbro is absolutely right in his request that firefighters’ gear be immediately decontaminated after being exposed to lithium-ion battery fires (“Fear battery blazes,” Feb. 26). The city has a non-negotiable duty to do everything possible to protect New York’s Bravest with the highest-quality firefighting tools available. With the proliferation of lithium-ion battery fires, long-term harm from chemical exposure is as menacing as the dangers from firefighting itself. The least we can do for the heroes who protect its citizens from fire danger is to provide them with the best protocols possible.
I gained a new respect for New York’s Bravest when I witnessed a team of firefighters in action a few short weeks ago on E. 63rd St. in Manhattan. The bravery exhibited was extraordinary. As fire was literally shooting out of the top of a tenement building, a firefighter climbed a ladder toward the flames to protect those in danger. The team of firefighters executed their mission with military precision and incredible coordination.
These men and women made me proud. They deserve every support available. Firefighters risk their lives as a matter of routine and it should be the FDNY’s routine to provide every bit of support that they request in order to perform their jobs with maximum safety. This should not be a matter for controversy. FDNY Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh should listen to Ansbro and do as he asks, plain and simple!