The Fist Internationally Accreited Fire Dpartmen in New York State 1299 LONG POND ROAD ROCHESTER, NEW YORK 14626 Telephone: (585) 227-2123 ¢ Fax: (585) 227-4040 wwwarrtd.org, WEA March 24, 2020 Francis J. Nerney, Jr State Fire Administrator New York State Office of Fire Prevention & Control 11220 Washington Avenue- Bldg. 7A ‘Albany, New York 12226 ‘Administrator Nerney, ‘This correspondence isan inquiry into the circumstances surrounding situations relative to a number of incidents involving the fire distrct’s recruits during attendance and participation in Basic Recruit Firefighter Training Program at Montour Falls. The vast majority of firefighters employed by the Ridge Road Fire District successfully completed the basic recruit firefighting training class at the Academy. located in Montour Falls, and did so with the utmost regard to the instruction and preparation delivered, including myself (1994-02). However, since 2019 we have encountered a series of events and injuries that cause considerable concern regarding the training being delivered particular to the “mask confidence” and “survival” week, and whether ths instruction is being conducted consistent with firefighter professional qualifications as outlined in the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) standard 1001, ‘Attached is correspondence | penned to Chief Monacelii, as well as a relative email, questioning the liberties apparently being taken by instructors in apparent deviation from the Job Performance Requirements (JPR) for the respective skills that are based on NFPA 1001. As | mentioned in the letter to Chief Monacelli, the very purpose of a standardized evaluative instrument is to remove subjectivity and ambiguity relative to accomplishing 2 task; however, it appears that the instructors during mask confidence and survival have been given license to do Just that. In addition, upon discussion with our rectuits who successfully graduated from class #2019-02, their reports indicate questionable conduct by instructors shown toward the recruits who are relying on these seasoned veterans to “Instruct” and “teach” this new generation of the fire service, not to seemingly intimidate and deviate from standards to determine one’s point of breaking, Just as troubling is the recent slew of injuries our recruits have suffered at a pace we have never experienced with the academy prior to 2019, and interestingly enough all occurred during mask confidence or firefighter survival. We can certainly agree that firefighting Is a highly dangerous profession, and ! am on-board with training as we will fight and that people will sustain injuries in training; however, the uptick in injuries experienced is at an unprecedented rate with troubling similarities RIDGE ROAD FIRE DISTRICT 9% cS Aonz0v%RIDGE ROAD FIRE DISTRICT “The First Interuntonaly Accredited Fine Department in New York State 1299 LONG POND ROAD ROCHESTER, NEW YORK 14626 Telephone: (585) 227-2123 » Fax: (585) 227-4040 www.rrfd.org ‘Additionally in class #2019-02, another of our recruits was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with Methicillinresistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) on August 27, 2019. The recruit in question suffered inflammation and skin tear related to doffing and re-donning his SCBA while in a 24” tube, ‘which was also the same “skill” noted previousty with our first recruit. This recruit was admitted to the hospital for nearly a week. tn addition, in class #2020-02 that was recently cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, two (2) of our recruits suffered shoulder injuries. One (1) recruit suffered a dislocated shoulder manipulating themselves and their SCBA within the 24” tube and remains out of work to date. The second recruit injured his shoulder while navigating the mask confidence course. Upon the second injury, | contacted Chief Monacelli who was unaware that the second injury had even occurred, but attributed the shoulder injuries to a recent change in Physical Training (PT) program. Furthermore, follow-up with surrounding fire chief's who had recruits either in #2020-01, or #2020-02 have shared that injuries to their recruits also appear to be increasing, and seem to be in similar areas of instruction, ‘The injuries suffered by Ridge Road recruits since 2019 at the New York State Fire Academy are particularly troubling. The incidents are of obvious concern for the recruits affected who are at the very ‘outset of their career; costly for the fire district now, and potentially into the future should any of these be precipitating factors for reoccurring injuries. ‘ook forward to sharing your response with the Ridge Road Fire District's Board of Fire Commissioners.