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The new Recruits: Firefighters in Training
Aired December 24, 2003 - 15:12 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Heavy losses suffered by the New York City Fire Department on 9/11 forced it to recruit twice the number of probationary firefighters. CNN's Deborah Feyrick has been following one of the probies, Jorge Pena, through training. And in the conclusion of her three-part series, Pena fulfills his lifelong dream.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After 12 weeks of intense training interrupted by war, George Pena's childhood wish came true. Pena, the son of Cuban immigrants, became a New York City firefighter.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It means achieving something very important right now. We have to support him.
FEYERICK (on camera): New York City has about 8,700 firefighters in more than 200 firehouses. The tragedy of 9/11 was both a blow and a turning point.
NICHOLAS SANTANGELO, FDNY CHIEF OF TRAINING: In a crazy sort of way, it created an opportunity to take new people and train them to a different level.
FEYERICK: So you built a stronger fire department, on some levels?
SANTANGELO: Yes, without a doubt. I believe so.
FEYERICK (voice-over): New training means firefighters are better equipped to handle terror attacks. But for Pena, it's about fire. And he can't wait to fight his first one.
Pena landed at Engine 82 in the South Bronx. It's the city's busiest firehouse. Last year, answering nearly 470 calls. An average of more than one fire a day. Coming in for the first time, Pena did what all probies do...
JORGE PENA, PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTER: The first thing you do is you set your gear by the rig and then you check the rig.
FEYERICK: Then, breakfast. On Pena's second day a big call came. A four-alarm fire at a mattress warehouse in Manhattan. A young rookie was killed. The first trained after 9/11 to die. Still, Pena's commitment to his lifelong dream never waivers.
(on camera): What do you think makes the New York City Fire Department special, as opposed to any other fire department in the country?
PENA: The members and traditions. Put those two together, that's what makes this the best job in the world.
FEYERICK: Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 24, 2003 - 15:12 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Heavy losses suffered by the New York City Fire Department on 9/11 forced it to recruit twice the number of probationary firefighters. CNN's Deborah Feyrick has been following one of the probies, Jorge Pena, through training. And in the conclusion of her three-part series, Pena fulfills his lifelong dream.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After 12 weeks of intense training interrupted by war, George Pena's childhood wish came true. Pena, the son of Cuban immigrants, became a New York City firefighter.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It means achieving something very important right now. We have to support him.
FEYERICK (on camera): New York City has about 8,700 firefighters in more than 200 firehouses. The tragedy of 9/11 was both a blow and a turning point.
NICHOLAS SANTANGELO, FDNY CHIEF OF TRAINING: In a crazy sort of way, it created an opportunity to take new people and train them to a different level.
FEYERICK: So you built a stronger fire department, on some levels?
SANTANGELO: Yes, without a doubt. I believe so.
FEYERICK (voice-over): New training means firefighters are better equipped to handle terror attacks. But for Pena, it's about fire. And he can't wait to fight his first one.
Pena landed at Engine 82 in the South Bronx. It's the city's busiest firehouse. Last year, answering nearly 470 calls. An average of more than one fire a day. Coming in for the first time, Pena did what all probies do...
JORGE PENA, PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTER: The first thing you do is you set your gear by the rig and then you check the rig.
FEYERICK: Then, breakfast. On Pena's second day a big call came. A four-alarm fire at a mattress warehouse in Manhattan. A young rookie was killed. The first trained after 9/11 to die. Still, Pena's commitment to his lifelong dream never waivers.
(on camera): What do you think makes the New York City Fire Department special, as opposed to any other fire department in the country?
PENA: The members and traditions. Put those two together, that's what makes this the best job in the world.
FEYERICK: Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
