FDNY Assistant Commissioner Fired Over Controversial Training Exercise: Report

NEW YORK CITY — An FDNY assistant commissioner has been fired from the department after posting a controversial training exercise video on social media, according to a report.

The official's firing was reported by PIX11 News.

The video allegedly showed a training exercise involving black students transporting cotton balls across a room with their hands tied behind their backs, according to the report.

The incident occurred inside a training classroom in Queens during a summer program at the department’s Youth Leadership Academy. The class was led by a white instructor who was later fired, according to the report

Mayor Eric Adams took issue with the video in a statement to the outlet.

“One should know the significance of picking cotton and putting it on their face,” Adams said. “I found it offensive, and many people who reached out to me found it offensive.”

An FDNY spokesperson, after an investigation following the incident, "this individual was permanently removed from her position with the department.”

The assistant commissioner who was fired has not been publicly identified and did not respond to requests for comment from PIX11.

EMS Local 2057 president Oren Barzilay called the incident "disgraceful."

Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos said she was grateful to the FDNY "for taking swift action to address it."

No additional details have been released on the incident.