Protect Them Today

Protect Them Today
 

The Chief-Leader/Michael O'Kane 'PROTECT THEM TODAY': Firefighter Richard Sclafani, who died fighting a basement blaze in Brooklyn Jan. 23, 2005, was represented at a plaque dedication ceremony in his name Jan. 24 by his mother Joan and sister JoAnne. The Sclafani family has donated $1,500 to his company, Ladder 103, in the past year, and urged Mayor Bloomberg to devote more money to the FDNY. 'I just wish they would do more while the guys are alive,' Mrs. Sclafani said. The Mayor attended a similar ceremony the day before in The Bronx to remember Lieuts. Curtis Meyran and John Bellew, who died after being forced to jump from the fourth floor of a burning building that same day. The city has since reissued personal ropes - which it had recalled in 2000 - along with a personal safety harness to all firefighters, and says all members will be trained in self-evacuation by June.