Charlie Schmid
REO is the winner when Charlie came on board after his retirement. He is far from hanging up his rescue gear for the last time. Interestingly, before his calling to serve as a fire fighter / rescuer for 24 years with New York City, Charlie spent seven years as a tree surgeon.
Charlie's service with the FDNY included Engine 210 and Squad 1 in Brooklyn, Ladder 22 in Manhattan and more recently, he served as a lieutenant with Squad 41 in the Bronx. Much of his career was spent in the Special Operations Command, specializing in Technical Rope Rescue, Hazmat, Building Collapse, Trench Rescue and Structural Fire Fighting. He is a certified New York State Fire Instructor and an adjunct Instructor for the FDNY Technical Rescue School, FDNY Bureau of Training, while also finding time to teach at the New York State Fire Academy.
Charlie is a frequently requested speaker throughout the fire service and has recently signed on with Fire Engineering's FDIC. His areas of expertise include Technical Rope and Confined Space Rescue, Fire Fighter Survival, Forcible Entry and Elevator Emergencies.
Some how, Charlie manages to also participate as a volunteer with the New Jersey Initial Response Team in providing Cave Rescue and Ground Search & Rescue throughout New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It is difficult to tell that Charlie is semi-retired! When time permits, he enjoys numerous outdoor sports with his family, as well as, wood-working and stained glass projects.