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Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Training Seminar

November 4th - 6th 2022

The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Training Seminar included three days of life-saving firefighter training! 

The 2022 Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Training Seminar offered world-class firefighter training taught by fire service leaders. This great weekend of fire department training not only helped firefighters to develop their skills, it also benefited the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation’s grant program. Our grant program helps fire departments in need provide Personal Safety Systems (PSS) to their firefighters.

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Two Days Firefighter Hands-On Training
November 4 – 5, 2022

Suffolk County Fire Academy
676 Maple Street
Yaphank, NY 11980

One Day World-Class Firefighter Lectures
November 6, 2022 

Eastern Suffolk Boces
750 Waverly Ave
Holtsville NY 11742

Training Options

ONE DAY – $150
ANY TWO DAYS – $250
ALL THREE DAYS – $300
Department vouchers accepted until October 20, 2022.

Hotel Accomodations

HOLIDAY INN LONG ISLAND/ AIRPORT EAST
1730 NORTH OCEAN AVENUE
HOLTSVILLE, NY 11742

Sponsorship Opportunity

Join us for another year of hands-on training at the 2022 Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Training Seminar. All hands on training programs require a minimum certification of Firefighter I.

Train for your next response with hands-on opportunities including:

Residential Fire Operations (LIVE FIRE)
Firefighters will perform various evolutions designed to develop skills on the fire ground at residential structure fires. Many skills will be taught and performed including; Hose handling, Forcible Entry, Laddering, VEIS, Search and Communications. There will be live fire with smoke and heat conditions in the County burn building with seasoned instructors guiding you through each evolution.

On Scene Training Commercial Fire Operations (8 Hours)
Firefighters will perform various evolutions designed to develop skills on the fire ground at commercial structure fires. Many skills will be taught and performed including; Hose handling, Forcible Entry, Laddering, VEIS, Search and Communications. There will be live fire with smoke and heat conditions in the County burn building with seasoned instructors guiding you through each evolution.

Fire Behavior For The Modern Fire Environment
This isn’t just about flashover and the modern fire curve! This course is designed for the firefighter to increase their knowledge on what is actually happening around them in a fire building. The course will begin with a short classroom presentation followed by a rotation of live burns that demonstrate each and every aspect of the presentation under real fire conditions. Students will see firsthand changes on the fire ground including; fire growth, proper and improper ventilation, oxygen limited fires, roll over, flashover and more! Students will also operate with a Thermal Imaging Camera and proper use of the CAN!

Setting up for Success – Aerial & Tower Ladder Operations
This program will provide the answer to why we consider the tower ladder both an offensive and defensive tool on the fire ground. The basic steps of how to use this tool to its maximum capability will be presented in an organized approach from start to finish. The program will emphasize the importance of getting this apparatus in position early and the advantages it can provide the department throughout the incident. This interactive presentation will have various discussions and then move out to the training field to set up and operate tower ladders on the buildings to be used at their maximum potential.

Forcible Entry Techniques
Firefighters encounter many obstacles when trying to enter in to a fire building to save lives and get water on the fire quickly and efficiently. This program is designed to enhance firefighters’ skills on forcing doors, cutting locks and roll down doors to enter as quickly as possible. Various tools and techniques will be addressed by experienced instructors from Flashfire industries.

Advanced Auto Extrication and Heavy Lifting
This class is design to challenge the firefighter with difficult extrication scenarios that are not every day occurrences. Vehicles are staged in precarious positions with viable victims trapped that must rely on proactive firefighters to save them. Students will use various tools and equipment while utilizing proven techniques under the guidance of seasoned instructors to successfully extricate the victims.

Firefighter Down! Rapid Intervention
This course is designed for the Firefighter and Fire Officer to enhance their ability to operate proficiently as a Rapid Intervention Crew. Students will go through various stations utilizing different equipment and rescue techniques in zero visibility to save our own. The following skills will be covered: air management, emergency communications, downed firefighter removal techniques, and self-survival skills.

Search and SCBA Emergencies
This class is designed to help build confidence with SCBA usage while navigating a challenging maze. Techniques involving conducting a proper search will maintaining your situational awareness will be discussed and implemented. This class will benefit entry level firefighters as well as a seasoned veteran. Students will be using many different training props throughout this course. Upon completion of this class, students will walk away an increased level of confidence of their SCBA and air management. 

Standpipe Operations
Not all standpipe operations are performed in the same way. This course is designed to teach proper methods of utilizing a standpipe system, hooking up, stretching hose lines and operating in large and multi-story structures. The course will begin with a classroom presentation followed by hands on operations in a multi-story structure. Instructors will work with students on asks that are constants and that will always be performed before firefighters advance a hose lines into the harm’s way.

Thermal Imaging
This interactive full day program you will learn from experienced instructors who will offer you years of practical experience on utilizing the Thermal Imaging Camera. Our instructors are not salesmen or factory reps, but firefighters from busy urban departments nationwide that will share their knowledge with you. This program will begin with a classroom presentation and followed with various hands on instruction in a live fire environment. See what you have been missing when looking at the image on the camera.

“Everyone Has A Plan…. Until They Don’t” - It’s all good until things start to go bad... now what?
In this class the student will be challenged to utilize performanceenhancing skills in a tactical setting. Participants will operate in adeliberate manner recognizing, accepting and acting upon the variousforces being applied and exerted (both internal and external) duringtraditional search and forcible entry. The mental componentsometimes goes unchallenged, yet part of managing a pressuresituation is managing yourself. Here, the "re"ghter will be tasked withspotting potential friction points and will identify strategic moments toimplement a “tactical pause” as routine, in the form of variousperformance skills and stress inoculation strategies designed toincrease resiliency and the likelihood of sustained success.

Street Smart Emergency Procedures - How to Save Yourself and Others using Basic Tools
This four hour presentation is designed to give firefighters
techniques and simple actions to save yourself or another
member in a rapid manner using just the common tools and
basic equipment carried by members on the fire ground. This is
not a Fast Company or RIT operation, this about keeping
yourself and/or your team alive. The methods taught in this
presentation are focused on removal and extraction techniques
without the support of additional members and equipment.
Street smart and common sense methods that work when time is
critical. This 4 hour course is presented by two veterans that
have been directly involved in FF removals in their careers.
Presented by John Cagno, Ret. Battalion Chief Rescue
Operations, Providence, Rhode Island and Tony Tricarico, Ret
Captain Squad 252, FDNY Special Operations.

Eckert Fire Tactics (2 Days)
The focus of this two-day program is to build firefighter confidence, while enhancing basic skills through our experienced staff. Firefighters will rotate through 16 skills stations (8 each day) including some live fire scenarios. Eckert Fire Tactics strives to increase firefighter’s performance and efficiency with programs designed to meet the challenges of the modern fireground.

Engine Company Operations (4 Hours)
Just stretching a hose line is not always as easy as it seems! Students will be rotated through four skills stations to challenge the engine company firefighter and enhance their knowledge on the importance of getting the line into operation quickly and efficiently. Students will be stretching 1 ¾’ and 2 ½” lines around obstacles and operating. Students will also utilize standpipe systems, operate hose lines at a basement fire under live fire conditions and learn how fires rollover and flashover in the flashover simulator.

Ladder Company Operations (4 Hours)
This class is designed to enhance the ladder company firefighter enhance their knowledge and skills on working safely, but aggressively on the fire ground. Firefighter will learn various techniques on Forcible Entry, portable ladder & VEIS, low visibility search and roof operations.

Man Vs. Machine
Whether it is a basic ring removal, a person with their arm stuck in a snow blower or a full entrapment involving agricultural equipment, our experienced instructors from PL Vulcan will guide you through the necessary steps to perform these extrications.

Tower Rescue
Fire departments respond to various emergencies involving workers that are injured or stuck in an elevated position that must be removed safely. This program will enhance the technical rescue firefighter on Tower Rescue and will have students perform various techniques to climb a 100’ radio tower and remove an injured worker. Students will be guided by experienced instructors for First Due Training and Safety Consultants.

Confined Space Rescue
Sixty percent of would-be rescuers die when attempting to rescue a worker in a confined space. This program is designed for the technical rescue firefighter to enhance their knowledge of confined space emergencies. Various techniques will be shown and performed by the student in our confined space simulator. This is a great opportunity to complete your annual refresher or enhance your skills with experienced instructors.

High-Angle Rope Rescue
Rope Rescues are becoming more and more common with the amount of taller buildings and older buildings that are in need of repairs. This program will give students the opportunity to perform actual rescues from an elevated position. Students will learn various techniques and perform raises and lowers of victims in distress including window washers trapped by a dangling scaffold.

Collapse Operations

Train Emergencies and Accidents
This class is designed for first responders actions when responding to railway accidents and emergencies. These incidents can vary from a simple derailment to a major crash with a few people with minor injuries to a few hundred seriously injured patients. Instructors will discuss various hazards, safety issues and extrication techniques. Students will work to mitigate a railway situation safely while working to extricate and remove victims from a train accident at a station platform. 

How to Save Yourself! - Bail Out Operations Utilizing Ropes and Ladders
Lt. Joseph P. (“Joey”) DiBernardo lost his life as the results of his injuries suffered on “Black Sunday” after being trapped by fire and the attempting the self-rescue by bailing-out of a 4th floor window (5-stories above grade level). This class will discuss the different techniques of a successful window bail-out utilizing a personal escape system and ladder bail-out maneuvers. 

Street Hydraulics
The fire service has experienced many changes in how we operate over the past 50 years- Bunker gear, thermal pane windows, SCBA usage. Some of these changes have been identified as they were happening and training was changed in order to keep up. The transition from a throttle and relief valve set up, to a pressure governor on our engine companies was one of these changes. A paradigm shift is needed for an Engineer to properly supply handlines on the foreground. We will go more in depth to explain some of the common mistakes made on the fireground and teach why this continues to happen. This class will explore the differences in process to properly supply and pressurize handlines on the fireground. The difference between pressure and volume in a two-stage pump, as well as identifying nozzle reaction as an issue in some cases. Teaching our chauffeurs to understand how the pressure governor works through engine cues, relationship of gauges, identifying how much volume of water is available, and the difference between using tank water or a positive water source are all identified and explained. The class will also give the student the knowledge to choose between the backstretch or inline pumping, depending upon hydrant location and manpower availability, as well as the knowledge to choose the proper intake in order to leave the front of the building clear for aerial apparatus. The hands-on portion will take all of the concepts explained and show the student in a real-world situation how the pressure governor behaves in multiple scenarios, and allows the student to operate and learn.

Classroom Firefighter Training
November 6th, 2022 

The 2022 Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Training Seminar will feature world-class fire service instructors who will discuss relevant topics that are sure get you ready for your next call!

Keynote Speaker – 
Chief Bobby Halton

"Hoarder Houses"
Lieutenant Tim Klett - 
Fire Department City of New York (Retired)

Fires in Hoarder houses can present a multitude of problems on the fire ground, from access and egress, water application to the eventual searches for possible victims. This 1 1/2 Hr. lecture will discuss the common, and more over, the uncommon signs indicating the possible presence of hoarding conditions. It will cover the initial operations such as when encountering the 3 main types of conditions we can expect to find and also how to manage each condition individually to eventually flip the fire ground back in our favor. This lecture will also list some of the serious dangers these fires represent to firefighters operating in and around areas with hoarding conditions, and how to effectively do our jobs while safely evaluating each problem. We will also cover the information chain, which is critical for the incident commander to constantly monitor the progress or lack of, there-by requiring an immediate change in tactics.


"Make The Grab, NOT Excuses"
Cody Trestrail - Founder of the training group Brothers In Battle, LLC
I will make the case to know our why and use experience, statistics and science to occupy the interior and make the grab, not excuses!

I Started my Fire Service career in 1995 at a small combination department in WA State. I followed my dream and was blessed to be hired by the FDNY, working on Ladder 119 in Brooklyn, then becoming a member of the special operations command (SOC), assigned to Squad 1 in Brooklyn. I left the FDNY to put my family first and went to work back in my home town for Portland Fire & Rescue where I was assigned to Engine 31 for the majority of my career there until I recently retired from the backstep.

I am the founder of the training group Brothers In Battle, LLC with whom I have taught both nationally and internationally and also the founder of Firemanship Conference Portland (FC PDX).

I’ve been happily married for over 22 years to my incredible wife Andrea and we have two beautiful daughters.

I’m into the job, not just on the job!


“Lessons Learned in Leadership: From the Firehouse to the Fire Floor”
 Captain Douglas J. Mitchell, Jr - Fire Department City of New York
We routinely fight fires in rapidly deteriorating IDLH environments with limited information. The cadence to which the team performs is primarily due to the leaders' expectations set forth preemptively. Leaders must be 'in the fight' and motivated both by improving the well-being of the team and successfully carrying out the organization's mission to save lives and property. This program will delve into leadership challenges in every fire company and department. From mindset to motivation, from tactics and training, we will have a spirited discussion of lessons learned from successes and failures in the firehouse and on the fireground.

Doug is a member of the New York City Fire Department with 30 years of fire experience, the last 23 with the FDNY. He is the Captain of Ladder Company 38 in the Bronx’s 7th Division. Doug served as the Executive Officer of Probationary Firefighters School and is a PIO for the FDNY IMT. He was a Lieutenant in the Bronx, a Fire Marshal in Queens and a Fireman in Manhattan. Doug previously worked for Fairfax County Va. Fire & Rescue Department.

He is a principal member of the NFPA 1400 committee. He co-authored Fire Engineering’s “25 to Survive: Reducing Residential Injury and LODD”. An accomplished writer and lecturer, he keynoted FDIC in 2022.


"Revising the Mission Mindset"
Chief Scott Thompson - Colony Fire Department, Texas
This program is based on a mission of saving lives and protecting property through mindset and aggressive problem solving. This presentation will talk about mission drift, and the lessons we should be learning from the current issues in law enforcement and their response to active shooters. Topics will include being safe versus managing risks, mission as the motivation, the 4Ps (purpose, principles, philosophy and practices) and keeping the G.A.S. (Give A Shit) tank full. An emphasis will be on suburban fire operations, deployment models, and objective based fire operating guidelines.

Chief Thompson joined the volunteer fire service in 1981. He began his paid career in Plano, Texas in 1986. Over the course of his career, he has worked with several progressive fire service organizations. Chief Thompson is passionate about suburban fire operations and positioning firefighters and fire companies for success and survival. He has a Bachelors of Science in Emergency Administration and Disaster Planning and is a certified public manager (CPM). Thompson has been a hands-on, workshop, and classroom presenter at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) since 2002. In additional to writing The Functional Fire Company: Positioning Small Groups for Success and Survival, he has written numerous published articles. Thompson is currently the fire chief in The Colony, Texas Fire Department and he owns and operates Functional Fire Company LLC and fireserviceleadership.com. Thompson has two sons in the fire service.

Thank You to the Suffolk County Fire Academy for their continued support of the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Training Seminar. 

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2022 SEMINAR

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LONESTAR EDITION 2022

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2021 SEMINAR

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2020 SEMINAR

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2019 SEMINAR

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2018 SEMINAR

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2017 SEMINAR

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2016 SEMINAR

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2015 SEMINAR

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2014 SEMINAR

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2013 SEMINAR

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