6/22/25 Bronx 5th Alarm Box 3360

Do you have to get permission from FDNY Headquarters to stand at the command post next to the chiefs? Or can any civilian go up to the command post to film operations? There’s no fire line at FDNY operations?
 
Doggreen6644 said:
Do you have to get permission from FDNY Headquarters to stand at the command post next to the chiefs? Or can any civilian go up to the command post to film operations? There’s no fire line at FDNY
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The command post is usually although not always in located in a safe place where one can get a good overview of the situation at hand. In a very dynamic environment the location may change for safety and or operational reasons.

Technology is changing a lot of things. Drones and other equipment permit Command and Control elements to appreciate conditions with greater accuracy enabling them to make a more informed operational decision without having to be in physical proximity to environments that can be difficult to operate in.

Now to your question about fire lines, yes they exist. The NYPD is responsible for perimeter control of the incident. In the early phases of a rapidly developing incident those lines can sometimes hard to define and or enforce.

Can anyone just stand at the command post ? No. Can someone stand in proximity and use the “reach of the stream” to record audio/ video while not being a pest or in the way ? I would say yes.

Some of the video you see on this site is produced by individuals that understand the nature of their surroundings and can professionally acquire video in a way that does not impede the operation. Furthermore the footage can helpful as part of a post incident analysis.

To sum things up, if you unprofessional, under foot or making things difficult for those trying to mitigate the emergency you will find yourself having limited content for your efforts.

In the end regardless of the aforementioned, if you are instructed to get behind the lines, you must. If you decide not to comply, no matter how “professional “ you might be your user experience likely won’t a happy one.
 
Ok. So that’s an interesting answer. So in your explanation. If you’re a civilian who’s a “professional” YouTuber or social media influencer you’re allowed to walk up to command posts with incident commanders at emergencies. Times have changed I guess. I assumed civilians weren’t allowed that close to operations. Filming across the street or a couple blocks away is one thing. Fire buffs have been doing that for decades. But never seen civilians standing next to chiefs at the command post close enough to film the iPad screens or command board.
 
Doggreen6644 said:
Ok. So that’s an interesting answer. So in your explanation. If you’re a civilian who’s a “professional” YouTuber or social media influencer you’re allowed to walk up to command posts with incident commanders at emergencies. Times have changed I guess. I assumed civilians weren’t allowed that close to operations. Filming across the street or a couple blocks away is one thing. Fire buffs have been doing that for decades. But never seen civilians standing next to chiefs at the command post close enough to film the iPad screens or command board.
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It also depends on the department. Jersey City, for example, pretty much tapes off the entire block. That may also have to do with the whole neighborhood showing up to look at the fire
 
Doggreen6644 said:
Ok. So that’s an interesting answer. So in your explanation. If you’re a civilian who’s a “professional” YouTuber or social media influencer you’re allowed to walk up to command posts with incident commanders at emergencies. Times have changed I guess. I assumed civilians weren’t allowed that close to operations. Filming across the street or a couple blocks away is one thing. Fire buffs have been doing that for decades. But never seen civilians standing next to chiefs at the command post close enough to film the iPad screens or command board.
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Members of the Press are allowed to cross fire lines. The videos are for training makes the FDNY and every other department better day by day and technically anything you see in public you can film. Seems like you’re just going against “buffs” Also some “buffs” have fire line cards that they can’t be moved at all as they are grandfathered in unless they impend operations. I know what to film and not to film. Making the FDNY a greater and safer one has always been a key. Videos always help for training and what could have been done better. FDNY uses the videos, they are being used right now to train the new probies at the rock and they are playing at the FDNY fire zone.
 
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Can you explain this please Skyler, Also some “buffs” have fire line cards that they can’t be moved at all as they are grandfathered in unless they impend operations. As as retired Traffic Dept UK police officer, cordon lines at any large Fire are very intense and the public on foot or car get no where the actual incident.

Keep your excellent videos coming Skyler and the extensive reports and attendances from Signal73 they are much appreciated by all members of this forum.
 
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alycidon said:
Can you explain this please Skyler, Also some “buffs” have fire line cards that they can’t be moved at all as they are grandfathered in unless they impend operations. As as retired Traffic Dept UK police officer, cordon lines at any large Fire are very intense and the public on foot or car get no where the actual incident.
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Issued by a commish. It’s basically a red card that says that you can cross fire line tape. Nobody impends fire operations that’s why there is no issues.
 
Skyler Fire said:
Members of the Press are allowed to cross fire lines. The videos are for training makes the FDNY and every other department better day by day and technically anything you see in public you can film. Seems like you’re just going against “buffs” Also some “buffs” have fire line cards that they can’t be moved at all as they are grandfathered in unless they impend operations. I know what to film and not to film. Making the FDNY a greater and safer one has always been a key. Videos always help for training and what could have been done better. FDNY uses the videos, they are being used right now to train the new probies at the rock and they are playing at the FDNY fire zone.
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I see. I’m not against buffs. I am a buff. I enjoy the videos. I was just curious how you guys get that close to operations and the command post being that you’re civilian YouTubers not trained firefighters. I would have assumed NYC/FDNY would have been more strict with that in the post 9/11 world.
 
Can I also add: some photographers/videographers have built personal relationships with some of the chiefs in question, and have a proven track record for showing respectful discretion on what they film and therefore likely get some latitude that a random member of the public likely wouldn't.

This is a good thing as it enables all of us who are interested to get an up-close view, while also respecting privacy and protecting the reputation of the department.

We don't need rules for everything, sometimes people can just work it out among themselves in trusting and respectful relationships. Skyler and TheMajestirium have written the book on this when it comes to documenting the FDNY.
 
HFN01 said:
Can I also add: some photographers/videographers have built personal relationships with some of the chiefs in question, and have a proven track record for showing respectful discretion on what they film and therefore likely get some latitude that a random member of the public likely wouldn't.

This is a good thing as it enables all of us who are interested to get an up-close view, while also respecting privacy and protecting the reputation of the department.

We don't need rules for everything, sometimes people can just work it out among themselves in trusting and respectful relationships. Skyler and TheMajestirium have written the book on this when it comes to documenting the FDNY.
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Thanks appreciate that! Documenting the Best Fire Department in the world is great! Yes mistakes happen but we do are absolute best to put the FDNY in the best light as possible!
 
Skyler Fire said:
Members of the Press are allowed to cross fire lines. The videos are for training makes the FDNY and every other department better day by day and technically anything you see in public you can film. Seems like you’re just going against “buffs” Also some “buffs” have fire line cards that they can’t be moved at all as they are grandfathered in unless they impend operations. I know what to film and not to film. Making the FDNY a greater and safer one has always been a key. Videos always help for training and what could have been done better. FDNY uses the videos, they are being used right now to train the new probies at the rock and they are playing at the FDNY fire zone.
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Skyler, Thank you for helping me thread that needle. I was attempting to answer the question without resorting to specific detail. I appreciate your clearing things up for all of us. In the future I will remain in my lane. Thanks again.
 
There is a thread on the site concerning the cards. General Category Questions and Answers (03/11/17)

I also sincerely add my thanks for the work both of you do to allow us to "take it in".
 
68jk09 said:
FDNY FF RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL ....
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That is GREAT NEWS

Thank you Chief for posting this and as Firefighter William Levering mentioned in the video, THANK YOU to all the doctors and nurses that treated him.
They also are LIFE SAVERS we all depend on.

Let us THANK the GOOD LORD too for giving Firefighter Levering the chance to walk out of that hospital and be with his family again and his Brothers and Sisters of FDNYs Engine 81/Ladder 46.
 
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