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FDNY Captain Olsen by David Rosenfeld
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FDNY Captain Paul Olsen
By David Rosenfeld
The heroism of the New York City Fire Department is known far beyond the confines of the Five Boroughs. As the first line of defense against life threatening emergencies in one of the world’s biggest cities, members of the FDNY carry an awesome responsibility of safety and community service. Since October 2001, FDNY Captain Paul Olsen has been a honored member of what he calls a “brotherhood”, serving in different neighborhoods throughout his home borough of Brooklyn. He spoke to Center Spirit to share his story and some important tips for fire safety. Captain Olsen is Brooklyn born and bred. After studying at colleges in Pennsylvania and upstate NY, he began working as an accountant in Manhattan. The white-collar work didn’t satisfy Captain Olsen, and after a few years, he sought out work fighting fires for the city. “It was a leap of faith,” says Captain Olsen. “I didn’t know anyone in the field, and I knew nothing about the fire department. I just decided to go for it, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. At the time, my parents weren’t too happy about it.
Captain Olsen with his son.
They had sent me to school to be an accountant, not to run into burning buildings. But over time, as they have seen how great a job it is working for the FDNY, they have grown to love it, just like I have.” Going from crunching numbers to fires was a long process. “I first applied in 1997,” says Captain Olsen. “I took my first tests then but didn’t get called to the job until October of 2001. There’s a written test, which is the standard civil service test, and a physical. I made one mistake on the written part of the exam the first time I took it, and that meant I had to wait another three years until I could get into the next academy class. That’s how competitive it is. Usually, the academy training is 18 weeks, but after 9/11, they accelerated our time through the academy to eight weeks because the need for new firemen was so great.” On that tragic day, the FDNY lost 343 members. Recalling that time, Captain Olsen can remember the state of shock that everyone was in, but in rebuilding from the department’s worst tragedy, he began to experience the unique bond shared by FDNY members. “Being on this job means joining a brotherhood,” says Captain Olsen. “In our line of work, when those doors open up, you don’t know what type of situation you’re walking into. You need to trust and rely on the people you work with in a very profound way. The bond that’s created through firefighting means that the people you work with become an extension of your family. I started out in the fire department together with a young group of guys. Since then, we’ve all grown together and gone through different big life events: getting engaged, married, starting families. Through it all, we’re always there for each other. We’re brothers. That’s one of the most unique things about our job.” To an outside observer, the initial moments of a firetruck response to a fire can seems chaotic with firefighters rushing off the truck and grabbing equipment. As Captain Olsen explains, what we are seeing
is actually an exquisitely choreographed ballet of targeted emergency response. “Everyone has a set job, and we have a clear plan for our approach to the situation,” says Captain Olsen. “Knowing what to do and how to act in those moments is what cadets learn at the academy. We cover everything we need to know so that we can fight fires on day one of the job. We learn about all the equipment, what its function is and when to use it. We have to master procedures such as organizing the hose line, manning the ladder, and breaking down doors. We also learn some of the science behind fires as it pertains to emergency situations. For example, if we break a window or a door, we understand that we are releasing oxygen in to feed the fire. We are being trained to do our utmost
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to achieve suppression of the fire so that we can rescue people and property.” Unlike accounting, where the biggest risk of the job is forgetting your calculator at home, fighting fires means facing potentially fatal situations. As Captain Olsen describes it, firefighters have to deal with a harrowing disorientation when they enter a burning building. “You always want to find the fire before it finds you. You’re walking
into a strange space that you are unfamiliar with, that’s filled with smoke and fire. Very soon, you are deprived of most of your senses, and you have to navigate with touch and hearing alone. At that point, it becomes very easy to get confused, and if you can’t figure out where you are, you’re in trouble. I’ve been in situations where I lost my way and started to feel the heat around me. Thankfully, someone made a noise, and I was able to navigate my way out. But it’s very frightening. You walk out and say, ‘that was too close of a call’.”
In his early days as a firefighter working in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, Captain Olsen was eager to learn. His passion and dedication propelled his journey up the ranks of the FDNY. “I was very nervous when I first started,” recalls Captain Olsen. “I wanted to learn everything as quickly as I could, so I tried to get hands on experience with every element of the job. I worked very hard and asked a lot of questions. I made sure to pick the brains of the senior guys who had been there and done that so that I could learned from their experience. I worked at Sunset Park for about nine years, at which point, I started studying for the lieutenant’s exam. I got promoted to lieutenant and was soon transferred to a firehouse in Crown Heights on Rogers Avenue. After a few years, I was fortunate enough to be promoted to Captain. Currently I’m stationed at the firehouse on Dean Street in downtown Brooklyn, near the Barclays Center. I am on the chief’s list and will hopefully become a chief sometime this year.” Despite his seniority, Captain Olsen says he’s goes out on calls just as often as he used to. The schedule of a firefighter is very demanding. “Everyone is responsible for shifts,” says Captain Olsen. “The shifts extend from 9 am to 6pm, and then 6pm to 9am. Sometimes people pull back-to-back shifts, meaning they are on duty for 24 hours straight.”
During a 24-hour shift, the firefighters don’t take naps or doze off. “There are no beds in the firehouse,” says Captain Olsen. “Somebody can rest if they need to, but in general we are staying alert for whatever might come our way. During quiet times of a shift, I’ll run drills with the junior firefighters on all the main techniques: climbing ladders, forcing doors, stretching hose. We also have to prep meals for ourselves. Another task we’ll do during shifts is building inspection, where we will go out and make sure buildings have their permits and are up to code. Our job is ensuring safety, making sure there are no locked exits or anything else that could lead to tragedy during a fire.” Captain Olsen has a wife and two children, and despite the demanding schedule, he says that job is conducive for family life. “My wife has worked as a nurse for just as long as I’ve been a firefighter, and we’ve been able to work out the schedule over the years. Often, I’d be coming back from a shift just as she was heading out so she would hand the kids off to me. My mom also helped a lot, and the FDNY was always very accommodating and understanding. Even if I’m gone for a 12-hour night shift, most of that is while the family is asleep. It’s nice that I can see them in the mornings and help them get ready for school. A lot of people who work 9-5 don’t get that opportunity.” Because of the demands of the job, firefighters have to maintain their physical fitness at a high level. “We usually leave the academy in pretty good shape,” says Captain Olsen. “If you show up and you’re not physi-
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cally up to par, you’ll be told to hit the gym or spend time running. We also do annual physicals with the FDNY, and they keep track of it to make sure you’re staying fit. I personally run four to five times a week.”
In a certain sense, fire department is a misnomer; FDNY members have to deal with far more than just fires. Situations as diverse as suspicious smells and medical emergencies fall under the jurisdiction of firefighters. “EMS runs, cardiac events, car accidents, gas leaks, water leaks, downed trees, downed wires, hazmat emergencies, people in the water, sparking outlets, extreme weather events: we get brought in for everything,” says Captain Olsen. “Naturally, this means I’ve faced some very horrific situations and some very prosaic ones. What I try to focus on in this job is the fact that I am able to be there for someone in what very well might be their darkest moment. This is my job, and I’ve seen a lot. For me, it could be the littlest thing, just another day at the office, but for the person I’m helping, this could be the most nerve-wracking event of their life. To be able to help people through that moment is a very meaningful experience.”
Captain Olsen participating in a September 11 memorial march across the Brooklyn Bridge.
Safety tips
In terms of safety tips, Captain Olsen had a few main points. “Never have kids near the stove while you’re cooking, and never let them play with matches,” warns Captain Olsen. “It’s crucial to remember that if you can put out a fire successfully, that’s fine. But if it’s beyond you, shut the door, which will prevent the fire from spreading, get out, and call 911. If you stay inside, you can quickly be overcome by the smoke. Never let someone back into a burning home. Sometimes people want to rush back in for pets or possessions, which can be a fatal mistake. Just tell the firefighters when they come where the animal is, and we’ll go get it if we can.” Incidences of fire spike when the weather is extreme. “At the times of the year when people are overusing their boilers or electricity, that’s when fire is most likely,” says Captain Olsen. “Those are the most common cause of fire. Be aware of that when you are heating or cooling in your home.” The frum community has special concerns when it comes to fire safety. Two main areas are candles, whether for Shabbos Chanuka or a yahrtzeit, and leaving hot plates out over Shabbos and Yom Tov. “Any open flame should be monitored extensively,” recommends Captain Olsen. “Make sure they are out of reach of children, and that any curtains, drapes or anything hanging near or around the fire are moved away. It’s important that a candelabra or menorah be placed on a surface where even if. for whatever reason. the fire come out of its receptacle, the surface should be one that isn’t flammable. A hot plate should likewise be on a surface where it can heat safely and where it will be out of the reach of children. A stovetop might be a good idea, as it is designed to have heat on it.”
