Firefighter Matthew Herzog
Engine 96
1. Please introduce yourself—your name, your title and the year you joined the FDNY.
My name is Matthew Herzog. I joined the FDNY in 2014.
2. Where are you currently assigned, and what are your main responsibilities?
As a firefighter in Engine Company 96, my responsibilities include responding to calls, including—but not limited to—structural fires, car accidents and medical emergencies. Additional responsibilities inside the firehouse include drilling activities with probies and maintaining upkeep of tools, equipment and apparatus, as well as keeping the firehouse clean and organized.
3. What inspired you to choose a life of public service with the FDNY?
I discovered a desire to help people when I was in college. I wanted to be the one people could depend on when they were having an emergency.
4. Can you share one of your most memorable moments on the job?
When I was an EMT at Station 8 in Manhattan, I assisted in delivering a baby girl in a car just outside the Lincoln Tunnel.
5. When you hear the words “We Are FDNY,” what does that mean to you?
To me…..[LL15.1]we are the ones who are looked to for help. We have learned from those who came before us, but it is now up to us to instill the same knowledge and training in the future members of the Department.
6. What would you say is your “superpower”—a strength or skill you bring to your work?
I enjoy drilling activities with probies; I enjoy teaching. I also participate in career day, where we discuss our roles as firefighters with elementary-school children.
7. How does your role help advance the FDNY’s mission of public safety?
My role helps advance the FDNY mission by responding to fires, medical emergencies and other incidents where lives are at risk. Every call is an opportunity to protect people and property through quick, skilled and coordinated action. Additionally, I advance public safety through fire prevention education, building inspections and community outreach. Teaching people how to prevent fires and respond safely in emergencies is just as important as putting them out.