The Fire Commissioner is the person who is responsible for the total operation of the City of New York Fire Department. The Fire Commissioner is not responsible for directing the extinguishment of a fire, but is responsible to make sure that the fire gets extinguished as safely and as fast as possible. The commissioner provides the personnel & the tools so that the Chief of Department can assure the extinguishment of each blaze.
Over the years I been able to ask a few commissioners who have come up thru the ranks about overseeing the operations end of the job. I been told several times by different commissioners that they might suggest ideas to the incident commander, but that’s as far as it should go.
Back in 1898, on 1 Jan, five NY state counties formed the City of New York, creating what is known as the five boroughs. Here has been 34 fire commissioners excluding Acting Fire Commissioners. Here is a list of the last 17 persons to hold that title:
Edward Cavanagh, Jr. Feb 15, 1954 to Dec 31, 1961
Edward Thompson Jan 1, 1962 to Aug 6, 1964. Former Firefighter – resigned / Judge
Martin Scott Aug 6 1964 to Dec 31, 1965 – Former Chief Fire Marshall, was 1st Dep Commissioner.
Robert O Lowery - Jan 1, 1966 to Sept 29, 1973 (1st African-American Fire Comm. Former Fire Marshall. Resigned before end of term.
John T O’Hagan – Oct 11, 1973 to Jan 17, 1978. Served as Chief of Dept / dual role.
Augustus Beekman - Jan 17, 1978 to Nov 5, 1980 – Former Asst Chief (2nd African American Fire Commissioner) Resigned due to health problems.
Charles Hynes Nov 5 1980 to Oct 22, 1982 Served as a Dep Commissioner – Resigned for a Judgeship / became Bklyn DA
Joseph Spinnato - Oct 22, 1982 to 17 Nov 1987 – Served as Dep Comm & Interim Fire Comm. Resigned before completing his term.
Joseph Bruno – Nov 16, 1987 to Dec 31, 1989 – Served as a Dep Fire Commissioner. Became Commissioner of NYC OEM.
Carlos Rivera – Jan 1 1990 to Aug 31, 1993 – Served as an Asst Chief. (1st Hispanic Fire Commissioner) Resigned before completing his term.
William Feeham – Aug 31, 1993, to Dec 31, 1993 – Former Asst Chief. Served as both acting Fire Comm & promoted to Fire Comm. Died on 9-11.
Tomas Von Essen – Apt 15 1996 to Dec 31, 2001 – Former FF , President of UFA.
Nicholas Scoppetta - 1 Jan, 2002 to Dec 31, 2009 – Served previously as Commissioners in various city agencies.
Salvaore Cassano – Jan 1, 2010 to June 7, 2014 – Former Staff Chief.
Daniel Nigro – Jun 7, 2014 to Feb 16, 2022 – Former Staff Chief
Laura Kavanagh – Feb 16, 2022 to ???? - Former Dep Comm & 1st Dep Comm. (1st female comm)
Over the years I been able to ask a few commissioners who have come up thru the ranks about overseeing the operations end of the job. I been told several times by different commissioners that they might suggest ideas to the incident commander, but that’s as far as it should go.
Back in 1898, on 1 Jan, five NY state counties formed the City of New York, creating what is known as the five boroughs. Here has been 34 fire commissioners excluding Acting Fire Commissioners. Here is a list of the last 17 persons to hold that title:
Edward Cavanagh, Jr. Feb 15, 1954 to Dec 31, 1961
Edward Thompson Jan 1, 1962 to Aug 6, 1964. Former Firefighter – resigned / Judge
Martin Scott Aug 6 1964 to Dec 31, 1965 – Former Chief Fire Marshall, was 1st Dep Commissioner.
Robert O Lowery - Jan 1, 1966 to Sept 29, 1973 (1st African-American Fire Comm. Former Fire Marshall. Resigned before end of term.
John T O’Hagan – Oct 11, 1973 to Jan 17, 1978. Served as Chief of Dept / dual role.
Augustus Beekman - Jan 17, 1978 to Nov 5, 1980 – Former Asst Chief (2nd African American Fire Commissioner) Resigned due to health problems.
Charles Hynes Nov 5 1980 to Oct 22, 1982 Served as a Dep Commissioner – Resigned for a Judgeship / became Bklyn DA
Joseph Spinnato - Oct 22, 1982 to 17 Nov 1987 – Served as Dep Comm & Interim Fire Comm. Resigned before completing his term.
Joseph Bruno – Nov 16, 1987 to Dec 31, 1989 – Served as a Dep Fire Commissioner. Became Commissioner of NYC OEM.
Carlos Rivera – Jan 1 1990 to Aug 31, 1993 – Served as an Asst Chief. (1st Hispanic Fire Commissioner) Resigned before completing his term.
William Feeham – Aug 31, 1993, to Dec 31, 1993 – Former Asst Chief. Served as both acting Fire Comm & promoted to Fire Comm. Died on 9-11.
Tomas Von Essen – Apt 15 1996 to Dec 31, 2001 – Former FF , President of UFA.
Nicholas Scoppetta - 1 Jan, 2002 to Dec 31, 2009 – Served previously as Commissioners in various city agencies.
Salvaore Cassano – Jan 1, 2010 to June 7, 2014 – Former Staff Chief.
Daniel Nigro – Jun 7, 2014 to Feb 16, 2022 – Former Staff Chief
Laura Kavanagh – Feb 16, 2022 to ???? - Former Dep Comm & 1st Dep Comm. (1st female comm)