GETTIN’ SALTY EXPERIENCE PODCAST Ep. 174 | FDNY HAZMAT BATTALION CHIEF ROBERT INGRAM

GETTIN’ SALTY EXPERIENCE PODCAST Ep. 174 Our special guest will be 35 Veteran FDNY Battalion Chief Robert Ingram. Appointed to FDNY: 1/9/82 Assigned to L-163 Woodside, Queens Ladder Chauffeur School in late 1983 1984, Transferred to HMC1 as a charter member. 1986, Fire Service Instructor I in FLTSP in order to instruct in HM courses. 1991, Promoted to Lt, assigned to the 35 Battalion 1992, Detailed to Fire Academy (HazMat Command request) to develop 1 st FDNY HM Ops training program. Joined later by Capt. Pete Stuebe and Lt. George Meyers. Worked in same room with then Lt. Mike Weinlein and FF John McConnel who were working on the initial Rescue training program. Selected & amp; trained 12 officers to deliver HM Ops to the members in 4 sites. 1993, Detailed to HMC1 as the 4th Lt. 1994, Promoted to Capt. Assigned to the 13th Division Contracted by the IAFF to deliver HM programs. Apr 94-Jan 95 UFO Captain Eng 303 1995, Covering Captain 13th Division 1996, Assigned Captain, E-273 1997, Detailed to Fire Academy at the request of BC Fanning to Develop and organize HM Training School for Technicians, Mission Specific companies in Building 8. Assigned to be the Radiation Safety Officer for the FDNY at this time also. Assumed responsibility for continuing to train CPC ladder companies Assumed responsibility for continuing to train ALS/BLS HazTac personnelWith Chief Fanning and Operations, planned “ICE” (Interagency chemical exercise.) With Chief Fanning and Con Edison VP for Emergency Operations Dick Morgan, developed the Joint CBRNE program with Con Edison for their WMD Response Team. 1998, Assigned as Executive Officer to BC Fanning, HM Operations. From 1996-2001, Chief Fanning and I made many trips to DC to work with the DOD in the Pentagon to support the NGB development of urban response and in return they provided the first WMD training to FDNY. This training focused mainly on chemical weapons. Under Chief Fanning, with Capt. Doherty (now Tech school Commanding Officer) worked with Operations and SOC to train newly formed Squads 18, 61, 252, 270, 288 in HM capabilities. 1998, FC Ven Essen ordered the training of Rescues 1. 2. 3. 4, and new members of 5 in HM capabilities. With Chief Fanning and Operations, planned citywide “BAD” (Biological Agent Drill) With Chief Fanning, Capt. Doherty, we all became charter members of the IAB, The Interagency Board, implemented by then attorney General Janet Reno, and co-chaired by the DOJ-FBI and DOD-NGB to enhance coordination between federal agencies and local responder organizations to combat WMD attacks. 1999, With Chief Fanning and Operations, planned citywide Maritime Radiation exercise. 2000, Promoted to BC Assigned as Executive Officer to Assistant Chief Cruthers, The Executive officer handled issues from Chiefs Downey (Rescue), Fanning (HM), and Guido (Marine) while Chief Cruthers was off duty. During this time, I worked with Chiefs Cruthers, Fanning, and Downey on the FDNY/NYPD Matrix for managing Special Incidents meeting regularly with NYPD Chief of SOD and others. Sept. 11, Was in my office when the 1 st plane hit the North Tower. Responded with Chief Ganci and the 7th floor staff, Incident Command at the down ramp to the WFC when the 2nd plane hit the South tower.Sept 12-Oct 12 Worked with Vinny Doherty to establish the US&R base camp at the school yard. Served as the H&S Officer of the WTC site. Took command of HM Operations. Worked with Chief Norman when he assumed command of Rescue Operations to equip and manage rescuers from SOC. Maintained my duties as the Executive Officer of Special Operations under Chief Cruthers. Oct 12-Jan 1, 2002, Moved out of the WTC H&S role and worked with Chief Tom Purtell of NYPD SOD to establish and manage “White Powder Teams” until NYPD took control of 911 and cut out the FDNY member position on Jan 1 2002. Nov 2001 Responded to the Plane crash in the Rockaways. Dec. 2001 Responded to the 1 NY Plaza titanium chiller explosion. Testified before the Senate Science & Technology Committee Jan 1-Sept 1, 2007, Commanded/managed the rebuild of HM Operations Capabilities. Re-organized HM Operations to manage grants, capital budgets, equipment Developed Managing 25-50 LD FFs and Officers (9/11 related) in HM Operations Developed HM Battalion over several years bringing in 5 additional BCs Trained & equipped HM Tech Engines 44, 250, 274, and 165. Maintained all external organizational commitments. HM Command by 2007 Sep 2007-Dec 2017 Assigned as the WMD Branch Chief for the FDNY Center for Terrorism and Disaster Retired Dec 20, 2017 Join us at the kitchen table on the BEST FIREFIGHTER PODCAST ON THE INTERNET! You don’t want to miss this one. You can also Listen to our podcast ...we are on all the players #lovethisjob #GiveBackMoreThanYouTake #Oldschool www.youtube.com/gettinsaltyexperience.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gettin-salty-experience-firefighter-podcast--4218265/support.