Like our original seminar, which will be held November 4-6, 2022, the newest training offering boasts three days of world class training. The Lonestar Training seminar, sponsored by Affordable Drill Towers, will take place deep in the heart of Texas on April 8-10, 2022. For those farther west who haven't made it out to Long Island yet, here's another opportunity for great firefighter training a little closer to you. A perfect warm up for the seminar in November!
The Foundation held their 8th Annual Training Seminar this November 5-7. Over 300 students and instructors from all over the country and Canada were in attendance. Two days of hands-on training were conducted in the field and at different venues. Nineteen hands-on subjects were taught, including: live burns in residential and commercial dwellings, roof ops live burns, and flashover simulator. Technical skills training included: high-angle rescue, elevator rescue, trench rescue, and scaffold ops. Basics were reinforced in engine ops, ladder ops, confined space, thermal imaging, standpipe, RIT, forcible entry, fire behavior, search and advanced auto extrication. One day of lectures included keynote speaker, FDNY Chief of Department Tom Richardson. Chief Leigh Hollins, from Florida, and Mo Davis, from Texas, also came to New York to impart their knowledge to our students. FDIC “Man of the Year,” Captain Mike Dugan, presented his third class for the Foundation, as did Instructor Ray McCormack. The Seminar was a huge success and we are looking forward to our next Seminar in 2022.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Over the last several months, the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation has been closely monitoring the Covid-19 pandemic. The health and well-being of our students, world-class instructors, and volunteers are paramount to us. We would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support for this year’s Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Seminar; the response has been outstanding! While we were hopeful that conditions would improve and that we would see all of you this November, we feel that given the current conditions we must postpone the 2020 Seminar. Please know that this decision was not made lightly, and that every possible effort was made to have a safe in-person event. We are committed to firefighter safety, just as Joey D was, and this responsibility for your well-being led us to this decision.
For those that are registered for the Seminar, you have a few options to consider:
- You can remain registered for the Seminar which we will have in 2021.
- You may request a refund for your registration.
- You may also choose to make a charitable donation to help the Foundation continue helping firefighters throughout North America.
Like all of you, we have been impacted by this global crisis. The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation has been unable to hold any of our traditional fundraisers, which support our grant program. We continue to explore new ways to continue to fulfill our mission of providing life-saving training and equipment to firefighters. Thank you for your support and understanding as we navigate this crisis together.
Stay safe Brothers and Sisters. We look forward to seeing you in 2021!
Deputy Chief Joe DiBernardo, FDNY, (Ret.)
Commander Division 6 South Bronx/Harlem
Join us on November 7 – 8, 2020, for hands-on training and courses taught by fire service leaders in Long Island, New York.
This one-of-a-kind 2019 Joey D Seminar humidor made especially for the Foundation, was hand crafted by Chief Mike Nugent at Black Pearl Woodworks. The humidor features the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation logo and a quote from FDNY Chief Edward F. Croker from 1910. It reads:
“I have no ambition in this world but one, and that is to be a firefighter. The position may, in the eyes of some, appear to be a lowly one; but we who know the work which the firefighter has to do believe that his is a noble calling. There is an adage which says that, "Nothing can be destroyed except by fire." We strive to preserve from destruction the wealth of the world which is the product of the industry of men, necessary for the comfort of both the rich and the poor. We are defenders from fires of the art which has beautified the world, the product of the genius of men and the means of refinement of mankind. (But, above all; our proudest endeavor is to save lives of men-the work of God Himself. Under the impulse of such thoughts, the nobility of the occupation thrills us and stimulates us to deeds of daring, even at the supreme sacrifice. Such considerations may not strike the average mind, but they are sufficient to fill to the limit our ambition in life and to make us serve the general purpose of human society.”
Retail value of the humidor is $400. All donations benefit the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation, which provides grants to fire departments in need.
Congratulations to Battalion Chief Tony Bruno, FDNY (Ret.) of the for winning the 2019 Humidor Raffle
View the new HOT class line up for 2019 and lecture series with FDNY Lieutenants Jason Brezler and Michael Ciampo, with a special keynote by Battalion Chief John Cagno (Ret.).
This one-of-a-kind 2018 Joey D Seminar humidor made especially for the Foundation, was hand crafted by Chief Mike Nugent at Black Pearl Woodworks. The box features the Joey’s photo, with Maltese Cross inlays, and the inscription honoring “Stay Safe Brothers.”
Retail value of the box is $300. All donations benefit the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation, which provides grants to fire departments in need.
Congratulations to Jim Wicks of the Ocean Beach Fire Department for winning the 2018 Humidor Raffle
FDNY Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo, also known as “Joey D,” knew that being a great firefighter took passion, initiative, and constant personal growth. He was not only a renowned fire service instructor, but he was also a life-long student. His legacy for training firefighters lives on through the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation and Annual Seminar.
Motivated firefighters from across the country will gather again in Long Island, New York, on November 3-4, 2018, to hone their craft and honor a fallen brother. The Annual Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Seminar not only provides training to firefighters, it helps to sustain the Foundation's grant program which provides life-saving personal safety systems (PSS) to fire departments in need throughout North America.
Throughout the weekend, you will gain valuable insights during classroom training with world-class fire service instructors such as FDNY Battalion Chief John Salka (Retired), Chief Dennis L. Rubin, Fire Chief Robert Fling, and FDNY Lieutenant Ray McCormack. With more than a dozen hands-on training opportunities, including Flashover/Firefighter Survival, Advanced Vehicle Extrication, and Chief Officer Workshop, the weekend offers something for every firefighter or fire officer.
Additionally, U.S. Navy SEAL Ryan “Birdman” Parrott, an author, speaker, and founder of two non-profits that benefit veterans and first responders will begin Day Two with an informative and engaging seminar. “Since 2013, with the generous support from our sponsors, partners, and the fire service, the Foundation has awarded over $242,000 in grants to help departments keep their members safe,” says Chief Joe DiBernardo. “When you attend the seminar, you are ensuring that one day, every firefighter has the training and equipment they need to safely escape a fire. We look forward to the day that no family, department, or community suffers the devastating impact of another 'Black Sunday.' ”
On that tragic day in FDNY history, a Bronx fire claimed the lives of two firefighters and forever changed the lives of the surviving firefighters and their families. Firefighter Jeff Cool’s personal life safety rope helped him and Joey to escape, as they were forced to jump from a 4-story apartment building with fire raging behind them.
You can be a part of this great event that helps keep you, your community, and the fire service safe. Reserve your spot for the 2018 Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Seminar today, visit www.joeydfoundation.org/seminars/2018-seminar. Learn more about Joey and the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation at www.joeydfoundation.org.
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.
Registration for the 2017 seminar will open on June 25, 2017 at: www.joeydfoundation.org/2017-seminar
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."
Sign Up for the Seminar Now - Use Code EARLYBIRD17 for Discounted Pricing
Memorial Training Seminar Supports Grant Program to Provide Firefighters With Safety Equipment
Almost five years after his passing, firefighters from across the country will come together at the Hilton Garden Inn in Stony Brook, NY to hone their skills, support a great cause, and to remember FDNY Lt. Joey DiBernardo. The 4th Annual Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation Seminar held on November 4-5, 2016 will benefit the Foundation's grant program for personal life safety systems.
“The thing Joey loved most in the world was going to fires; his next passion was training firefighters,” Chief Joe DiBernardo, Joey’s dad and Foundation President recalls. Joey was a fire service instructor, but he was also a student. He knew that constant both training and fireground experience would help him be a great firefighter. His passion for training made him a great instructor and advocate for firefighter safety, which he shared with firefighters all over the world.
So that is why the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation, established in 2012, carries on his legacy by training firefighters and providing firefighter safety equipment. Since 2012, grants totaling nearly $85,000 have already been awarded to departments in need of personal safety sytsems. "Our hope is to prevent another tragedy from happening. We thank all of the firefighters and supporters from across the country who are honoring our son and helping this Foundation protect the firefighting community," says Chief DiBernardo.
During the seminar, firefighters have the unique opportunity to talk one-on-one with their instructors at a special networking event. This event also includes a special presentation, to commemorate the 15th Anniversary of September 11th. FDNY Deputy Chief Jay Jonas, who led his Ladder 6 crew into the World Trade Center to rescue trapped civilians on September 11, 2001, will share his harrowing story of survival. On the Saturday, a full day of classroom training will include: Engine Company Operations, Store Fire Tactics, and Practical Search Operations in Residential Buildings.
Sign up for the seminar at www.joeydfoundation.org/seminars/2016-seminar or visit www.joeydfoundation.org to learn how you can show your support.
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"Are you on the job, or are you into the job?" was a question that the late Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo, FDNY, and renowned instructor often asked his students. He knew that no matter what type of department they came from and how many years of service, that being a great firefighter takes initiative, passion, and constant growth. On May 29 - 30, 2015, nearly 150 firefighters answered Joey's challenge, proving that they too were into "into the job" during the 2015 Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation Seminar in Long Island, New York.
Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo, also known as “Joey D,” of the FDNY and Setauket Fire Department, died in 2011 from injuries that he sustained in a 2005 fire, known as “Black Sunday.” On this tragic day in FDNY history, the Bronx fire claimed the lives of two firefighters and forever changed the lives of the surviving firefighters and their families. Firefighter Jeff Cool’s personal life safety rope helped he and Joey to escape, as they were forced to jump from a 4-story apartment building with fire ranging behind them.
"It really is a heartwarming event for Joe DiBernardo and me. The respect for Joey is so evident, and the support for what we are doing to continue his legacy is overwhelming," says Joey's mother, Barbara.
This year's event began with a meet and greet with instructors, firefighters, and FDNY legends of the BBC documentary Man Alive: The Bronx Is Burning. Students had the unique opportunity to talk with instructors and seasoned vets one-on-one outside the traditional classroom. The following morning, a full day of classroom training included Street Smart Tactical Truck Tips and Tricks with FDNY Lt. Michael Ciampo; University of Extrication: Hybrid Vehicles with Division Chief Ron Moore, McKinney Fire Department (ret.); Counter Terrorism Planning with FDNY Battalion Chief John Nykiel, and FDNY/NIST Live Burn Flow Path Study with Fire Protection Engineer Dan Madrzykowski and FDNY Captain John Ceriello.
Now in its third year, the annual seminar program has trained over 500 firefighters and continues to keep firefighters safe long after the training is over. Funds raised support the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation grant program. This grant program has awarded over $40,000 for training and personal life safety rope systems to departments that would not otherwise be able to afford them. The Foundation expects to announce additional grants in 2015, bringing the total to almost $100,000. "We are grateful for the generous support of our sponsors, donors, and all who attend and teach at the seminars. They play an important role in honoring Joey's memory and in keeping firefighters across North America safe," says Chief Joe DiBernardo, Joey's father and Foundation President.
With the conclusion of another successful seminar, the Foundation will continue its mission of training firefighters and helping departments provide life-saving equipment to their members. Preparations are already underway for the 2016 Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation Seminar. For more information about the 2016 Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Seminar or to learn other ways that you can help visit: www.joeydfoundation.org.
Third Annual Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Seminar to Be Held on May 29 - 30th
Firefighters from across the country will gather at the Hyatt Long Island on May 29 – 30, 2015, to train and remember fallen firefighter Joseph P. "Joey" DiBernardo. This annual two-day seminar will not only help them be better firefighters, but it will help other firefighters long after the seminar is over.
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation, carries on Joey's legacy by training firefighters and providing grants to departments for the purchase of safety rope systems. Following an incident on Sunday, January 23, 2005, Joey traveled around the country training firefighters and stressing the importance of personal safety ropes. During this fire, six FDNY firefighters were forced to jump from a four-story tenement after becoming trapped while searching for victims. Lt. Curtis Meyran and Firefighter John Bellew died from their injuries and Firefighters Eugene Stolowski, Brendan Cawley, Jeff Cool, and Joseph DiBernardo were critically injured. Later that day, Firefighter Rich Sclafani died in a house fire in Brooklyn, making it the deadliest day for FDNY since September 11, 2001; the incident became known as "Black Sunday." The effects of Black Sunday are still felt today by survivors of the fire and their families. On November 22, 2011, Joseph DiBernardo, who was promoted to lieutenant after the incident, died from his Black Sunday injuries at the age of 40.
A Foundation was established in his memory in 2012 to help keep firefighters safe. Chief Joe DiBernardo, Joey’s dad and Foundation president recalls his passion for training. “Through the work of the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation, Joey will never be forgotten. His love for training firefighters will continue to help firefighters and inspire them for years to come.”
This year's seminar features courses on: counter terrorism, updates on the FDNY/NIST Flow Path Study, Extrication for Hybrid Vehicles, and Truck Company Operations. A special networking event will allow students to talk with some of the most experienced fire service leaders, instructors, and veterans in the business including firefighters from the well known fire documentary Man Alive: The Bronx is Burning. More information about the 2015 seminar including links to register and ways to sponsor the event can be found at: www.joeydfoundation.org/seminars/2015-seminar
