Inspired by his uncles who were firefighters with the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), George Healy knew he wanted to become a firefighter himself from an early age. Having accomplished that goal, George now leads a career rooted in fire safety.

Utilizing Safety Science Research on the Fireground

George is an inaugural member of the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes, advisory board. Currently a deputy chief with FDNY, George utilizes FSRI’s fire safety research every day. “The work that FSRI has conducted to educate the fire service not only benefits me as an incident commander on the fireground but also as an advocate for fire safety. My decision-making process is based on the science of fire growth and dynamics,” he mentioned.

When asked about his tenure with FSRI, George reflected fondly on his experiences thus far. He owes his sound and appropriate decision-making to FSRI research, which enables him to safely lead team members through emergency situations. This responsibility is one of many for George in his role as deputy chief, which is why it is important that research continues to develop with the growing risks imposed by the built environment. 

“It’s been an honor to be part of this movement that drives change in the fire service. To have a seat at the table where I draw on my experience to assist with the trajectory of FSRI’s research has been a privilege. I couldn’t think of a finer group of people than the advisory board members I’ve worked with over the years.”

- George Healy, deputy chief, FDNY