FDNY debunks memo from Chief of Fire Operations

Question

A fake memo circulated on Tuesday suggested the FDNY in New York City would start housing migrants in firehouses.

The fire department was allegedly inundated with queries regarding the now-debunked memo, which suggested an 'emergency effort' was underway to put them in fire stations as soon as Wednesday.

'Tuesday night, a letter appearing to be an official FDNY internal document was circulated, purporting that firehouses will be used to house migrants,' FDNY press secretary Amanda Farinacci said in a statement.

'This is categorically false. The document is a fake, and there will be no firehouses used to house migrants,' she added.




A fake memo (pictured) circulated on Tuesday suggesting the FDNY in New York City would start housing migrants in firehouses





Hundreds of asylum seekers line up outside of the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building on Tuesday

The debunked memo, dated June 6, suggested that the Mayor had issued an order requiring that the 'Commanding Officer of each firehouse will immediately contact their Battalion and notify them of the amount of beds they have available for migrants seeking asylum'.

It also suggested officers would have to provide door codes to migrants, triggering outrage on social media were it initially spread. 

'First it was they were being placed at the old NYPD Academy now they must be housed at FDNY Firehouses. Talk about a real security risk,' wrote one person who did not doubt the document's veracity. 

The hoax was delivered in the form of a memo, claiming to come from the FDNY Chief of Fire Operations, John Esposito.

Esposito joined the department in 1991 and was assigned to Engine Company 324 in Queens. Over the next 30 years, he climbed its ranks and was appointed Chief of Fire Operations in July 2022.

But in February he attempted to resign from his position after Commissioner Laura Kavanagh demoted three chiefs in June, leaving the FDNY's ranks in turmoil.




The hoax was delivered in the form of a memo, claiming to come from the FDNY Chief of Fire Operations, John Esposito (pictured in April)





In February Esposito attempted to resign from his position after Commissioner Laura Kavanagh (pictured in October 2022) demoted three chiefs in June, leaving the FDNY's ranks in turmoil

In the last months, Adams and his administration have searched far and wide to find temporary shelter for the thousands of migrants pouring into the city. It is estimated that around 72,000 arrived in the city since last spring. 

The dissemination of the bogus letter came after hundreds of asylum seekers lined up outside of the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in lower Manhattan.

Earlier in the day Mayor circulaxil Erfahrungsberichte Eric Adams suggested his official residence, Gracie Mansion, was being considered as a venue in which to house migrants.

'I was speaking with the staff to see if I could put a few families into Gracie Mansion,' Adams said at an unrelated press conference on the Upper West Side, the New York Daily News reported.

'I don't have a problem if I can put a migrant family in Gracie Mansion because I want to lead from the front. That's the type of leader I am,' he added.

But he clarified he has to look at 'legal protocols' before moving migrants into the mayor's mansion in Brooklyn.

'You know, I can't use the building any way I want,' he explained.




New York City Mayor Eric Adams said on Tuesday he is considering housing migrants at his Gracie Mansion residence





Adams added that he has to look at 'legal protocols' before moving migrants into the mayor's mansion in Brooklyn (pictured)






An estimated 70,000 migrants have arrived in New York City over the last year

The mayor went on to emphasize how he would not be asking the city's residents to make space for migrants if he was not willing to make sacrifices personally.

'Generals don't send their troops into battle and ask, 'How's the war?' he said.

'They lead troops into battle. I'm a general who leads my troops into battle. So yes, I'm more than willing to use whatever space I have to deal with this crisis.'

Adams has previously said he wants Gracie Mansion to be 'the people's house' and has hosted at least three weddings at the home. The home's main floor is open to the public for limited guided tours.

Gracie Mansion has served as the home of the city's mayors since 1942, with some notable exceptions like Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg, who were not allowed to move in with their partners.

Only visiting officials and the mayor's family are allowed to reside at the home - a rule that could prevent the mayor's suggestion of housing migrants.

On Monday, Adams announced that mosques, churches, and other houses of worship would be helping in the city's efforts to provide shelter to migrants.

He said when the church-based program is fully operational, they hope to be able to host up to 1,000 asylum seekers at a time.


New York