5th Annual Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation Seminar to Be Held

Seminar being held on November 3-4 includes both classroom and hands-on training for firefighters from across the country.

On November 3-4, 2017, the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation will present its 5th Annual Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation Seminar in Long Island, New York. The event supports the Foundation's grant program which provides personal life safety rope systems and training to fire departments in need.

Chief Joseph DiBernardo, Joey's dad and Foundation President remembers, "The thing Joey loved most in the world was going to fires; his next passion was training firefighters." The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation, started in Joey's memory, carries on his legacy by training firefighters and providing life safety ropes to fire departments.

By popular demand of the firefighters who attend the conference, the Foundation has added hands-on training to the annual event. In 2017, over a dozen different hands-on options have been added including: Man vs. Machine, Large Vehicle Extrication, RIT/Firefighter Rescue, and the new Flashover Simulator at the Suffolk County Fire Training Academy.

In addition to the new hands-on training component, the Foundation will offer three classroom sessions on Saturday at nearby R.C. Murphy Junior High School. Renowned fire service instructors for classroom sessions include: FDNY Captain Thomas Gardner, FDNY Deputy Chief Michael McPartland, and Chief Dennis Rubin, of the Petersburg (VA) Fire Department.

"We hope that one day every firefighter has a personal life safety system as part of their personal protective equipment (PPE). And no family, department or community suffers the devastating impact of another Black Sunday," says Chief Joe DiBernardo. "Thank you to all of the sponsors and attendees who are helping us realize that goal. We are looking forward to seeing everyone again in 2017."