TRAINING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Captain Michael Lombardo, a 22-year veteran of the Buffalo (NY) Fire Department, was the recipient of the first Fire Engineering Training Achievement Award.
An early pioneer of firefighter safety survival tactics and a highly decorated firefighter, Lombardo began conducting safety and survival training for his crews in vacant houses in 1995. He undertook this responsibility because his department`s training division had no money and no personnel trained to instruct in firefighter safety and survival evolutions.
In August 1998, he trained the 175-plus firefighters in his platoon, using only the resources within the vacant houses he acquired for this training. The program consisted of six evolutions: wall breach, SCBA emergency operations, ladder slide, window rappel, handcuff knot, and window drop. Lombardo then proceeded to train members of the department`s training division, making it possible for all Buffalo Fire Department companies to receive the same training.
Lombardo also was instrumental in developing this program statewide in conjunction with the New York State Fire Academy, where he is an adjunct instructor specializing in firefighter basics, rescue operations, and mask confidence.
