NYFD flag

A member of the New York City Fire Department gets tangled in a flag at the dedication of a fire-simulator at the fire departments Randall’s Island training academy March 19, 2009. The structure  was made possible by a donation from actor Denis Leary’s foundation. Photo by JasonSmith.com

From the press release: The Leary Firefighters Foundation, in partnership with The FDNY Foundation is proud to announce the dedication of the state-of-the-art High Rise training simulation facility on March 19, 2009.  The first and only of its kind in the country, the simulator will help firefighters improve their skills in combating the difficulties of fighting fires in high-rise buildings, performing rescues, and saving lives under extreme conditions.

The 4,000-square foot structure located at the FDNY’s Fire Academy on Randall’s Island, will feature a variety of real-life functions, including a fire and flashover simulator, a central smoke system, a dry standpipe system, mock elevators and stairways, video hookups on each floor for review and a simulated fire command station.  High-rise buildings retain heat and gases that can quickly spread and create hazardous conditions for firefighters, and the simulator will help recreate these scenarios, improving each member’s ability to predict the movement of a fire.