This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von #637 - FDNY Firefighter
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Feb 4, 2026 
Tony Bonfiglio, a retired FDNY firefighter and 9/11 responder, shares vivid firehouse life and hard-earned street smarts. He recounts joining Ladder 34, gritty searches in smoke-filled homes, the brotherhood of long shifts and meals, harrowing work at Ground Zero, and the lasting health toll. Stories, truck-company duties, and his book Tales from the Tiller get lively attention.
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Train For The Test's Key Stations
- Prepare physically: the FDNY physical test (mile, wall jump, ledge walk) decides candidacy.
- Train for specific tasks like the eight-foot wall and ledge walk to pass selection.
Policy Change Alters Individual Fate
- The Brenda Berkman lawsuit delayed hiring and indirectly saved Tony's spot on the list.
- Structural policy changes can produce unexpected individual outcomes years later.
From Probationer To Truck Company
- Tony joined Ladder 34 and became a truckie doing searches, forcible entry, and roof work rather than hose lines.
- He initially feared heights and ladders but embraced the truck role and its hands-on rescues.
