City Moves to Fill Firefighter Ranks

By William Murphy and Dionne Searcey | STAFF WRITERS

September 16, 2001

The Fire Department rushed to fill top spots yesterday after the death of top commanders in the World Trade Center attack.

At the same time, the department moved to replenish the ranks of its mid-level commanders, the lieutenants, captains and battalion chiefs responsible for day-to-day firefighting duties.

The terrorist attack on the World Trade Center so badly decimated the rank of senior firefighters that more than 150 firefighters or officers will be promoted this weekend.

Fire Commissioner Tom Von Essen said the department would not be deterred from its job even after the attack, which is presumed to have killed more than 200 firefighters and superior officers, by the most conservative estimate.

Von Essen said he would appoint several new staff chiefs, four department chiefs, 29 battalion chiefs, 61 captains and 70 lieutenants.

"We need people to lead our men and help rescue our men," Von Essen said after Chief of Department Peter Ganci Jr.'s funeral in Farmingdale.

Earlier in Queens, Von Essen said he was planning on immediate promotions for 140 members of the department.

"We have to show everyone that this Fire Department cannot be locked down," he said.

Later, Frank Gribbon, a department spokesman, stopped short of saying the positions being filled were held by firefighters missing in the rubble of the World Trade Center.

"We're being realistic here," he said. "We need people in command to fill roles that are not being filled now."

Von Essen said later that Daniel Nigro, chief of operations, would be promoted to chief of department, the highest ranking uniformed spot on the 11,500-member force.

A citywide tour commander, Chief Salvatore Cassano, would be promoted to fill Nigro's role, Von Essen said.