Our Group is dedicated to continuing the training traditions of Lieutenant Pete Lund, a 30 year veteran of FDNY assigned to Rescue Company 2. During Pete's three decades of fire duty, he became known as "Vulcan" the Greek God of Fire. In 2002, he formed a group of firefighters to go out and provide realistic fire training across the country. Although comprised mainly of FDNY members, most had a background in the volunteer fire service. In 2005, Pete died in the line of duty while operating at a structure fire in his hometown of Woodmere, NY. Although Pete is no longer physically with us,"his guys" continue his mission of keeping the training interesting and informational. We pride ourselves on Pete's theory: "In The Fire Service You Either Lead, Follow, Or Get Out Of The Way"

We pride ourselves on the fact we are a "senior" teaching crew. The Instructors all have 20+ years of experience in the fire service.

Click here to view the courses we offer.

Lead Instructors:
Mark Gregory
James Sandas
Pat Nichols

Associate Instructors
Glenn Bullock
Kevin Candido
Joe Honan
Randy Miller
James Puleo
John Tew
Duane Wood

PL Vulcan is proud to announce our Instructors were selected to teach multiple courses at the 2011 FDIC in Indianapolis. Jim Sandas and Pat Nichols will be doing Hands-On Training for Urban Firefighter Magazine. Pat will also be conducting a class entitled "A Typical Taxpayer Fire, the Tia Ho Restaurant Fire, Boston 2007". Randy Miller will be lecturing on "Breaching & Breaking in a Foreign Land" from his experience in Haiti. Mark Gregory will be holding a 4 hour Seminar on "Truck Company Essentials"along with a lecture on "The Tactical Considerations For The Tower Ladder. We hope to see you all out at the FDIC

- Mark Gregory

LEAD INSTRUCTORS

MARK GREGORY has over 20 years of firefighting experience as a paid and volunteer firefighter. He is a Lieutenant in the FDNY assigned to Tower Ladder 111 (The Nuthouse) in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. Previously, he served as a Firefighter in Rescue Company 2 and Ladder 132. Mark instructs for the FDNY and Suffolk County Fire Academies. He is an Instructor for FDIC, a contributing writer for Urban Firefighter Magazine and lectures frequently through-out the country. Mark is an active member with the East Quogue Fire Department.  He has risen through the ranks and served as Chief of Department for 3 years, He currently serves as  Fire Commissioner.
 

JAMES F. SANDAS is a 23 year veteran with the F.D.N.Y. He was appointed to the Department in February of 1987. Jim has previously served in Engine Companies 212, 277 and Ladder Company 112 "The House of Pain" before transferring to Rescue Company 2 in 1996 where he is currently assigned.His fire service career began 33 years ago as a member of the Hempstead Volunteer FD where he served the ranks of Firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain, and Chief of the Department. He has served as the Assistant Chief of Trainingsince 1983. In 2005, Jim was hired as a New York State Certified Clinical Lab Instructor, Nassau County Emergency Medical Services Academy.

EMMET “PAT” NICHOLS is a 25 year veteran with the Boston, Massachusetts FD. He joined the Department in 1986 and was assigned to Engine 22 and then Ladder 10. Promoted to Lieutenant in 1991 and assigned to Ladder 26 “Huntington Ave Express” for the next 13 years before transferring to Rescue 2. In 2005, after being promoted to Captain, he was assigned to Ladder 25 and then returned to Ladder 26 until 2008 when he transferred to Tower Ladder 10, where he currently is the company commander. Pat has been an Instructor with the Massachusetts Fire Academy since 199 1.Pat presents lectures around the country for various Fire Service organizatios and is a frequent writer for Urban Firefighter Magazine. Pat is a member of FEMA’s Massachusetts Urban Search and Rescue team, MATF-1, where he is a Rescue Squad Officer. Pat began his fire service career with the Naugatuck Volunteer Rescue Squad in 1977 where he served until his appointment to the BFD.

DUANE WOOD is  a 23 year veteran of the FDNY. Assigned to Rescue 2 since 2000. Previously served in Engine 290 and Ladder 149.

ASSOCIATE INSTRUCTORS

RANDY S. MILLER is a 20 plus year veteran of the fire service, graduating from both the Suffolk County Fire Academy and the Florida State Fire College where he also earned his Florida State Smoke Diver Certification. He has served as a past Chief of the Hagerman Fire Rescue Department and also currently serves on the Board of Fire Commissioners. Randy is a 18-year veteran of the NYPD and has spent the last 11 years in the Emergency Service Unit (ESU), Randy is also Rescue Team Manager for NY-TF 1 National Urban
Search and Rescue Task Force and has responded to events both in the United States and most recently the Haitian Earthquake in 2010. Randy also serves as a Deputy Chief Instructor with the Suffolk County Fire Academy and is a FEMA certified Structural Collapse and Heavy Rigging Instructor.

JOHN E. TEW

With almost 20 years of firematic service, John has held all ranks in his volunteer fire department, and is currently the Chief of the Hagerman Fire Department. Joining the FDNY in 1999, John was assigned to Engine’s 307 and 318 before going to Hook and Ladder 143. He currently is assigned to Rescue Company 4, based in Woodside, Queens where he has been since 2003. Holding a NYS Fire Service Instructor I certificate he is a frequent instructor at the FDNY Special Operations, Technical Rescue School.

KEVIN CANDIDO

Kevin Candido has been a member of the FDNY since 2001. He began his career with Engine 235 (Eye of Bed-Stuy) and is currently assigned to Ladder 111 (The Nuthouse) in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. His firefighting experience goes back over 20 years when he joined the Hempstead Volunteer Fire Department in Long Island. Kevin has held the ranks of Lieutenant, Captain, Chief of Department and is currently an Assistant Chief Instructor of Fire Training.

JOE HONAN

Joe Honan is a 28 year member of the FDNY. He is assigned to Tower Ladder 111 (The Nuthouse) in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn with previous assignments in Engine Co. 214 and Tower Ladder 51. Joe manages the FDNY'S Mobile Extrication Teams and is our Lead Practical Instructor for Tower Ladder Ops.
 

JAMES PULEO

James J. "Jim" Puleo began his Fire Service career in 1985 and over the last 25 years has a mix of volunteer, paid on call, urban and suburban experience.  Jim has spent the majority of his career with the Mansfield Fire Department, Mansfield Mass.  He holds a Bachelors Degree in Arson Investigation from the University of New Haven.  He is a Massachusetts certified Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician, Hazardous Materials Technician, Fire Instructor and Safety Officer. He has served as an instructor for the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy since 1987 teaching in the Recruit, Haz-Mat, Officer, and Flammable Gas Schools. Jim has been a member of the Massachusetts District 1 Haz Mat Team for 20 years has been Fire Investigator for 20 years and is the Training Officer for his Department. He is currently a member of the Bristol County Technical Rescue Steering Committee.  Jim served as a Lieutenant for 6 years and currently holds the rank of Deputy Fire Chief.  He lives in Mansfield with his wife Wendy and two children John and Katelyn.
 

RICK NYDEGGER has over 25 years of diving experience as a professional, commercial and Public Safety diver. . A life long learner he started diving in 1984 quickly becoming a Divemaster and then instructor. Owner of his own dive company, he specializes in Marine Salvage and Overturned Vessel Recovery. He holds a Masters degree in Education and has taught at the public school and collegiate levels. He is currently the Dive Rescue Coordinator and dive trainer for the Hampton Bays Fire Department in which he has been a member since 2002. He currently holds certification in Public Safety Diving, Underwater Vehicle Extrication, Rapid Deployment Search and Recovery, Blackwater Diving, Underwater Videographer, and Moving Water Specialist from LGS, ACUC and PADI.