Essentials Las Vegas

To ensure safety for all future N.Y. Wheel passengers members of the city Fire Department (FDNY) are in Las Vegas, NV training in rescue operations on the High Roller Ferris Wheel. (AP Photo/John Locher)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- To help ensure the safety of all future N.Y. Wheel passengers, members of the city Fire Department (FDNY) are in Las Vegas training in rescue operations on the High Roller Ferris Wheel.

Eight members from the FDNY's Special Operations Command, which are specially trained firefighters from all five boroughs -- are engaging in a two-day training session, which began on Wednesday, said Elisheva Zakheim, an FDNY spokeswoman.

"City fire officials wanted to see how high-angle rescues using ropes would take place on a wheel of this size," she said.



The New York City's bravest are training alongside the Las Vegas Fire Department, as well as other firefighters from around the country.

FDNY Rescue Ops joins @LasVegasFD @OCFireRescue & Henderson FD for high-angle rescue training in Las Vegas pic.twitter.com/dIb2zmJK7c — FDNY (@FDNY) February 24, 2016

"FDNY often will travel with other fire departments from other municipalities to learn and share best practices. For example, last year our members traveled to Georgia to train on swift water rescue training (like during Hurricane Sandy) as well as patient removal from collapses caused by natural disasters," said Zakheim.

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