Inside the Harlem lithium-ion battery fire: FDNY firefighters relive rescues and Medal Day honours

by AmericasFeatured NewsIncidentsTraining

New FDNY Pro episode covers Harlem fire response

The FDNY Pro podcast has released a new episode on lithium-ion battery fire operations.

In the programme, Battalion Chief Ryan Brito and Firefighter Michael Kotzo recounted their actions at a February 2024 lithium-ion battery fire in Harlem.

The incident occurred in a six-story, non-fireproof apartment building where a battery ignited and spread rapidly through the hallway and stairwell.

The fire created extreme smoke and heat conditions that trapped dozens of residents on the upper floors.

The episode highlights how FDNY companies carried out rescues under near-zero visibility while engines fought to contain the spread.

Backgrounds of the podcast guests

The episode was hosted by Battalion Chief Jason Cascone, who interviewed Brito and Kotzo.

Brito joined the department in 2008, serving in several companies before being promoted to Battalion Chief in 2025.

He was Captain of Ladder 34 at the time of the Harlem fire.

Kotzo entered the FDNY in 2003 and has served in multiple companies, including his current assignment at Ladder 28.

Their backgrounds provided context for the perspectives they brought to the incident.

Inside operations and rescues

During the conversation, Brito explained how Ladder 34 advanced inside the building when fire blocked the stairwell.

Engine 69 stretched a line to hold back the flames, allowing ladder crews to climb and begin searches.

In blackout conditions, Brito located two unconscious civilians in a fourth-floor hallway.

With assistance from other firefighters, they removed both victims despite worsening smoke and heat.

He added that his team re-entered to continue searches in a cluttered apartment, supported by suppression efforts from engine companies.

Roof rescues by Ladder 28

Kotzo described on the podcast how he coordinated roof operations during the fire.

He and his roof partner performed rope rescues after finding civilians trapped at top-floor windows.

One rescue required him to descend with a victim clinging to him, who released his hold mid-descent.

Kotzo bore the victim’s weight until they reached the ground safely.

The discussion noted that Squad 41 also conducted rope rescues, supported by roof guides and ground units treating victims on descent.

Medal Day recognition

The podcast highlighted that six members received medals for actions at the Harlem fire.

Chief Brito was awarded the Henry D. Brookman Medal.

Firefighter Kotzo received the Chief of Department Peter J. Ganci Jr. Medal, the FDNY’s highest honour for fire operations.

Other recipients included Firefighter Jason Lopez, Firefighter Matthew Nolan, Firefighter Mark Douglas and Firefighter Dwayne Davis.

Brito and Kotzo said the recognition represented collective company work rather than individual achievement.

Training and culture lessons

The guests stressed during the episode the importance of training and coordination.

They said rope rescues and search techniques are drilled extensively, enabling instinctive action under stress.

They also highlighted the department’s culture of accountability, with crews returning to suppression after rescues were complete.

Both guests described Medal Day as a reinforcement of family pride and collective morale across the FDNY community.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

This podcast episode provides operational insight into lithium-ion battery fire response.

It shows how rapid fire spread in non-fireproof structures can trap residents quickly when doors are left open.

It outlines the value of rope rescue capability in dense urban areas where occupants may be cut off.

It also demonstrates how suppression and rescue functions must be integrated for life safety outcomes.

FDNY Pro podcast highlights lithium-ion battery fire operations: Summary

The FDNY Pro podcast has released a new episode on a lithium-ion battery fire.

The fire occurred on February 23, 2024, in a six-story non-fireproof apartment building in Harlem.

Battalion Chief Ryan Brito and Firefighter Michael Kotzo were featured guests on the episode.

Brito described leading inside searches under heavy smoke and heat.

Kotzo recounted rope rescues from the roof involving multiple trapped civilians.

Six FDNY members later received medals for actions at this incident.

The fire originated from a lithium-ion battery on the third floor.

An open apartment door allowed smoke and fire to spread into the public hall.

Engine companies contained the spread while ladder companies performed rescues.

The episode is hosted by Battalion Chief Jason Cascone.

It also reflects on the guests’ career backgrounds.

The episode aired on August 26, 2025.

The guests emphasised the importance of training for rope rescues and search operations.

They highlighted FDNY’s culture of accountability and collective duty.

The Medal Day 2025 ceremony was described as recognition for both families and firehouses.

The episode provides lessons for handling lithium-ion battery fires in non-fireproof structures.

It outlines the operational challenges and coordination required in such incidents.

It demonstrates integration of suppression and rescue functions.

It outlines the role of rope rescue in dense urban environments.

The FDNY Pro podcast episode is available through FDNY channels.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue publish Statement of Assurance

by Featured News

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service has published its latest performance report which shows firefighters attend more than 8,800 incidents in 2023/24, a reduction of nine per cent.

Staffordshire’s Statement of Assurance covers the 12 months between April 2023 to March 2024 and highlights prevention, protection and response activity across Staffordshire and how local communities and their priorities has been supported.

In October 2023, Staffordshire Firefighters were given access to two drones to gather aerial intelligence by live-streaming imaging to colleagues on the ground. They provide additional support by gathering information of the structural integrity of buildings, monitoring fire spread and confirming safe areas.

Two new aerial ladder platform (ALP) vehicles hit the roads of Staffordshire in March 2024 which allow rescues from tall buildings and help when tackling difficult to reach fires. Based at Longton and Burton, they replaced existing ALPs which had used for nearly 20 years.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service also recruited 34 wholetime firefighters, 70 on-call firefighters and 10 support staff.

According to its Statement of Assurance they also made visits to almost 14,000 homes of vulnerable people to do Safe and Well checks, an increase of seven per cent compared to the previous 12 months.

Chief Fire Officer for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Rob Barber’s statement

Rob Barber, Chief Fire Officer for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “It is pleasing to see that overall incidents are down and in particular house fire injuries and small outdoor fires which have seen a significant decrease.

“Whilst there has been a notable percentage increase in deliberate business fires, some of which are void premises, the numbers are still relatively low.

“When these incidents occur our fire investigators work closely with police to provide evidence to help bring those responsible to justice.

“Key achievements include the development of the falls response team and the home from hospital service, both providing support to vulnerable individuals and helping alleviate the pressures on the NHS and social care.”

Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue, Ben Adams statement

Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue Ben Adams said: “This report highlights the wide range of work Staffordshire Fire & Rescue undertakes to keep us all safe.

As well as responding to fires, more firefighters, staff and volunteers are engaged in prevention work that is ever more focused on protecting those most at risk.

“This work continues to evolve. I have invested in new equipment to support the Service to meet new and emerging operational challenges, some of which are a consequence of climate change or new battery and energy storage technologies that are rapidly developing in response to it.

“The falls response and home from hospital schemes continue to go from strength to strength and have rightly been recognised nationally as excellent examples of the difference a forward-thinking Service can make for the most vulnerable in our communities.

“I’d like to thank everyone at Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service for their commitment and dedication in protecting the people of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.”

A recent report by Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service reveals breadth of work: Summary

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service has published its Statement of Assurance, showing an increase in their reach and impact.

Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue Ben Adams said that the work continues to envolve as he thanked everyone at the Service for their commitment and dedication.

London Fire Brigade carries out counter-terrorism training for NATO

by Featured NewsFire Brigades Union

London Fire Brigade has begun conducting training around how emergency services respond to terrorist incidents, on behalf of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the world’s largest defence alliance.

Twenty-one delegates from countries across North Africa and the Middle East took part in training with officers from the UK’s National Inter-Agency Liaison Officer (NILO) Network, which is managed by the Brigade.

The training aims to ensure that first responders, both civilian and military, can effectively work together when responding to acts of terror, as well as introduce basic coordination plans that can be used by emergency services.

Officers from law enforcement, emergency services and military backgrounds attended the course. Delegates heard from the Brigade’s officers about how emergency services and public bodies in the UK coordinate their response to emergency situations.

This included sharing the UK’s Joint Emergency Service Interoperability Principles (JESIP).

The course also covered how the Brigade and partners have responded to major incidents in recent years, such as the London Bridge attack in 2017 and the 2018 Salisbury Poisonings.

The training culminated in a tabletop exercise for delegates where they were able to put everything they had learned into practice, with a tactical exercise designed to test their response to a potential major incident.

NILO’s background

The NILO Network started in 2001, when officers from the Brigade began looking at how to respond to an act of terror. For over two decades the Brigade has continued to develop its expertise in this area, initially working to improve capabilities across the UK.

The partnership with NATO grew out of the Brigade’s involvement in the Counter Terrorism Preparedness Network (CTPN), which brings together the mayors and counter terrorism leads of major European cities.

In these meetings it became clear that the Brigade’s expertise could be used to train NATO partners. As a result, the programme has been created, with additional support from the US State Department, with the aim of helping first responders increase public safety globally.

Assistant Commissioner, London Fire Brigade, Patrick Goulbourne’s statement

Assistant Commissioner Patrick Goulbourne and NILO National Co-ordinator, said: “Whenever an act of terror occurs, the effects can be felt around the world.

“In response to this risk, the Brigade is using its expertise to ensure first responders in different nations are equipped to respond in the worst-case scenarios.

“Partnering with NATO and the US State Department, brings our collective expertise together to reduce risk, improve interoperability, and to protect communities wherever they happen to be. It also gives us the chance to learn from partners on how we can improve our service to London and Londoners.”

Head of Counter Terrorism, NATO, Gabriele Cascone’s statement

Gabriele Cascone, NATO’s Head of Counter Terrorism, said: “Inter-agency cooperation is a fundamental and key element in the fight against terrorism and in NATO’s work in this domain.

“The NATO Counterterrorism Interagency Coordination training introduces, and initiates assistance-eligible NATO partners the UK National Interagency Liaison Officer (NILO) as an inter-agency co-ordination model for responding to terrorist attacks.

“With this introduction to the NILO approach, we expect participants will learn how to best respond to terrorist incidents and improve the co-ordination of information, intelligence, and capabilities to facilitate an effective, multi-agency response.”

Collaboration

NATO’s Counter-Terrorism Section is also developing and conducting counterterrorism courses for assistance-eligible NATO partner countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Gulf, and Sahel regions thanks to the financial support provided by the United States to the NATO National Contributory Fund.

The programme encompasses both civilian law enforcement/criminal justice agencies as well as armed forces, defence, and security officials.

This is done with a view toward strengthening overall civil-military cooperation and information sharing on counterterrorism efforts through a holistic, whole-of-government approach, in counter-terrorism areas of work such as: Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear defence, battlefield evidence, countering terrorism financing, border security and response to terrorist incidents.

NATO training provided by London Fire Brigade: Summary

The London Fire Brigade has begun providing training on how emergency services respond to terrorist incidents, in collaboration with NATO.

The Assistant Commissioner, Patrick Goulbourne said the Brigade is using its expertise to ensure first responders across different nations are prepared in the worst-case scenarios.

FSD Hong Kong presents year-end review

by Featured News

The Fire Services Department (FSD) in Hong Kong said it received 37,828 fire calls in 2024, representing an increase of 4.8% over 2023. In addition, there were 5,222 damaging fires, a rise of 154 cases over 2023.

In all, 95.6% of the building fire calls were responded to within the graded response time.

Director of Services, Andy Yeung

At a media session presenting the FSD’s 2024 Year-end Review, Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung recalled that a No. 3 alarm fire that broke out at New Lucky House in Jordan on April 10 led to multiple casualties.

He pointed out that the department subsequently formed a dedicated team to investigate the causes of the incident and factors which led to it.

Separately, a No. 4 alarm fire broke out at a construction site on Hung Nga Road in Hung Shui Kiu on April 9. Mr Yeung noted that during this operation, the department used indoor locating equipment for the first time.

This enabled firefighters to monitor the real-time locations and safety conditions of frontline staff and show the locations of those awaiting rescue, so that the search time could be significantly reduced, while the safety of frontline staff could be enhanced.

Findings of the year-end review

Mr Yeung also reported that the FSD conducted 460,400 inspections last year and issued 17,775 Fire Hazard Abatement Notices, with 4,967 cases brought to prosecution.

In response to the tragic fire at New Lucky House, he said the department proactively conducted, under a risk-based principle, about 8,200 inspections of some 1,000 old composite buildings with relatively higher fire risk.

A total of 8,661 notices were issued and over half of the cases were related to smoke stop door irregularities.

One-stop Co-ordination Office

Regarding the certification and acceptance inspection of fire service installation and equipment, the FSD plans to deploy internal resources and establish the One-stop Co-ordination Office for New Fire Protection Facilities Acceptance in March 2025.

Mr Yeung hopes that upon establishment of the co-ordination office, the overall time required for acceptance inspections could be reduced to within 35 working days in respect of average-scale regular projects.

To enhance the fire safety of old buildings, the department has completed the amendment to the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance which came into force on December 13 last year.

The main purpose of the amendment is to introduce the defaulted works mechanism, increase penalties as well as assist and drive target buildings to comply with the requirements, so that the fire safety standards of such buildings are enhanced to meet modern fire protection requirements, Mr Yeung explained.

Increase of 4.8% fire calls in 2024 say FSD Hong Kong: Summary

The Fire Services Department in Hong Kong have discussed the findings of their year-end review. The Director of Fire Services say that the amendment is introduced so that the fire safety standards of such buildings are enhanced to meet modern fire protection requirements.

London Fire Brigade urge caution amid increase in heating-related fires

by Featured NewsSafety

Since 22 December, London Fire Brigade has attended a heating-related fire every day. In total, 36 incidents have occurred, resulting in six injuries. With temperatures dropping in the colder months and increasing energy costs, some households have turned to alternative heating methods, contributing to a surge in fires. In 2024, firefighters attended 236 heating-related fires.

As part of Register My Appliance Week, the Brigade is urging the public to ensure their heaters are safe and not subject to recalls. It comes as data from the last month reveals 14 per cent of fires were caused by faulty equipment.

Recently, the Officer for Product Safety and Standards recalled two types of heaters due to dangerous faults in the equipment.

Assistant Commissioner, Prevention and Protection, Craig Carter’s statement

Assistant Commissioner for Prevention and Protection, Craig Carter, said: “ Many second-hand appliances may seem like a cost-effective choice but could pose serious risks if they are faulty. Always check that the heater isn’t on a recall list and that it’s being sold by a reputable seller.

“We would recommend that you register your electrical appliances, as that means you’ll be notified if any faults are identified with it. Our Fire Investigators have seen the consequences of fires caused by non-compliant and counterfeit heaters that have been recalled due to safety concerns.

“It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and ensure these items are in good working order. If you are using these items around children and pets, always supervise them carefully and place heaters somewhere where they won’t be accidentally knocked over and away from anything that could catch fire.

“Be careful that trailing leads don’t cause an additional hazard. Many portable heaters have shutoff features that prevent the appliance from overheating and that automatically switch off the heater if it is knocked over.

“If you’re considering using an older heater, check that it is in good condition. If it sparks, has loose or damaged wires, missing safety guards or other visible damage, it’s safer to replace it or have it tested and repaired by a qualified electrician.”

Firefighters’ tips for using portable heaters

  • Make sure heaters are well maintained and in good working order. 
  • Check that your heater isn’t on a recall list – there have been many fires in the past year connected to heaters that have been recalled.  
  • Register your old and new appliances, so that you’ll be notified if there any faults identified with it
  • Never install, repair or service appliances yourself.  
  • Keep heaters well away from clothes, curtains and furniture and never use them for drying clothes. 
  • Always sit at least one metre away from a heater as it could set light to your clothes or chair. 
  • Before attempting to move your heater, turn it off and allow it to cool first. 

London Fire Brigade warn of the risk of heaters: Summary

The London Fire Brigade have spoken out in support of Register My Appliance Week, after attending a record number of heating-related fires in the last month.

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service respond to over 4,500 incidents in five years

by Featured NewsResearch

Deliberate fires across the UK continue to waste valuable resources and put lives at risk, despite Fire and Rescue Services across the UK attending fewer incidents than last year. Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue has been revealed as attending over 11,000 incidents since 2019 by a new investigation, with many of these being deliberate fires.

Primary and secondary fires

Figures obtained by Public Interest Lawyers found that the Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has attended 11,544 primary and secondary fires over the past five years, with around 40% of these being deliberate fires.

Primary fires are potentially more serious fires that cause harm to people or damage to property.  Secondary fires are generally small outdoor fires, not involving people or property and these include refuse fires, grassland fires and fires in derelict buildings or vehicles.

In 2019/20, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service attended 2,487 primary and secondary fires, the second-highest number of fires in the past five years. Two years later, this number decreased to 2,028, caused by restrictions and lockdowns during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Service has experienced a drop in primary and secondary fires over the past year, with a total of 1,921.

Deliberate fires

Fire Rescue Services (FRSs) attended 600,324 incidents in the year ending March 2024, a decrease of 3.6% compared with the previous year (622,659).  Of these incidents, there were 138,977 fires, which was a decrease of 22% compared with the previous year (178,867).

Despite this positive drop in fires across the UK, a worrying percentage of these incidents are deliberate fires, which can lead to injuries and fatalities.

In the Public Interest Lawyers research 40% of primary and secondary fires were found to be deliberate fires. Victims of deliberate fires may lose all their property, become homeless or be seriously injured. The impact of arson is not just financial; it can also significantly affect a person’s emotional well-being and sense of security.

As highlighted by the Public Interest Lawyers, deliberately set fires are dangerous and are a criminal offence. They waste time, money and keep fire crews away from real emergencies. Deliberately set fires commonly include bins, skips, fly-tipped waste, derelict buildings, dry grass and heathland.

The impact across Hertfordshire

The Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has recorded 34 deliberate fire injuries since 2019. The highest annual total was eight in 2021/22 and 2022/23.

Whilst the impact of lockdowns in 2021 may have depressed the number of deliberate cases, the figures show that not only is arson the leading single cause of the fire but highlight the extent to which the increasing threat of arson must be taken seriously.

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service covers a wide area, which is divided into districts. Based on figures gathered from the service, the district where the most fires have occurred since 2019 is Dacorum at 1,581. East Hertfordshire, North Hertfordshire and Welwyn Hatfied District’s also experienced over 1,300 incidents.

Rise in deliberate fires attended by Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

Since 2019, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service have attended an increased amount of deliberate fires, over 4,500 out of the 11,544 incidents. Meaning that deliberate fires made up over 40% of the incidents attended by the Service.