International Conrad Dietrich Magirus Award Winners Visit FDNY

Firefighters from Rio de Janeiro visit the FDNY.

Photos: Francois Portmann

Firefighters from Rio de Janeiro, the 2014 winners of the international Conrad Dietrich Magirus Award, recently flew to New York City to visit the Fire Department of New York (FDNY).

Rio de Janeiro Fire Department Selected as 2014 International Firefighting Team of the Year

Warm jacket, hat, scarf and gloves: for people from the tropical region of Rio de Janeiro, these are unusual articles of clothing, though necessary for their five-day visit to New York City. The firefighting team from Rio received the title “Firefighting Team of the Year 2014” at the international Conrad Dietrich Magirus Award gala in Ulm, Germany. The team of firefighters was selected from several fire departments all over the world for its impressive rescue operation when a busy highway overpass collapsed in downtown Rio. For this courageous intervention the men were not only presented with the Conrad Dietrich Magirus Statue, but also with a trip to visit their fellow FDNY firefighters in the Big Apple. The team of ten from one of South America’s biggest fire departments got to meet New York’s Bravest at the beginning of March.

“The trip to New York was an amazing experience. The New York firefighters were so welcoming and it was a great opportunity to talk about equipment, challenging rescue operations, and life as a firefighter,” says Igor Liberato Calixto, Lieutenant of the military firefighters from the fire department of Rio de Janeiro. While the firefighters discovered some differences, they also realized they had a lot of things in common and developed a real camaraderie. “Each call out is a new challenge for us and we attempt to deal with it as best as we can and give our all,” says Igor Liberato Calixto. “Firefighters in Rio de Janeiro and New York, as well as all over the world have something in common: the desire to help others.”

The Conrad Dietrich Magirus Award would like to honor this dedication, as Antonio Benedetti of organizer Magirus GmbH explains: “Firefighters are a pillar of support for our society and often go beyond the call of duty. As one of the largest suppliers of fire safety and emergency management technologies, we have committed ourselves to raising general awareness of their services.”

The team from Brazil visits the FDNY training academy, "The Rock."

Fire Chief Welcomes Brazilian “Bombeiros”


The Brazilian “Bombeiros” got to experience the FDNY first-hand, an experience granted to very few people. One of the highlights was when The Rock training academy opened its doors to the Firefighting Team of the Year and the Head of the FDNY school welcomed the Brazilian team himself. All New York firefighters undergo regular training at the academy in very realistic conditions, including subway rescue operations, ABC training (atomic-biological-chemical training), firefighting, and driving safety training. These are scenarios that many of the firefighters from Rio de Janeiro with its population of six million are also familiar with. “The FIFA World Cup was a major undertaking and the 2016 Summer Olympics are just around the corner. Getting to talk to the New York firefighters was an interesting experience for everyone involved,” says Igor Liberato Calixto.

The Brazilian firefighters also enjoyed the visit to the Marine 1 fireboat. With its impressive range of equipment and technological finesse, the $27 million vessel is considered to be the world’s most cutting-edge fireboat. The visit to the 9/11 Memorial Museum at Ground Zero, which was built in remembrance of the approximately 3,000 victims of the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, proved to be a moving experience. The program also included a visit to different fire departments, the New York City Fire Museum, and the impressive sites of New York City.  

Members of the Brazilian team of firefighters aboard Marine 1, the FDNY fireboat.

The Countdown for the Conrad Dietrich Magirus Award 2015 Has Started

Firefighting teams from all over the world once again have the opportunity to win the title Firefighting Team of the Year and a trip to New York City to visit the FDNY. Starting on Monday, March 30, you can apply for the award at www.world-of-firefighters.com. The intervention submitted needs to have taken place after September 30, 2014. The type, size, and individual equipment of the fire department are unimportant. Fire departments that want to take part only need to submit a brief report on the operation, including key information and tactics as well as photos.    

About Magirus

Passion and precision, high-tech and craft. Since 1864, Magirus has stood for the combination of innovation and tradition–in the interest of firefighters around the world. With a comprehensive range of state-of-the-art and reliable firefighting vehicles, turntable ladders, rescue and equipment vehicles, special solutions, pumps and portable fire pumps, Magirus is internationally recognised as one of the largest and technologically advanced providers of fire safety and emergency management technology.

fort lauderdale dogs fire

Fort Lauderdale (FL) Firefighters Save Dogs From House Fire, Department Says

Firefighters pulled four dogs from a smoldering Fort Lauderdale home that was in flames just minutes earlier Thursday morning, according to the department.
MN Barn Fire

4,000 Pigs Lost in MN Barn Fire

A fire late Wednesday evening has resulted in a total loss of a hog confinement and the 4,000 hogs inside.