He is a man of the old times.
A new father who comes from a long line of police and firefighters – which dates back to the Irish Potato Famine – was promoted to a higher position FDNY function on Friday with dozens of other proud smokers.
Timothy Clark, 41, was promoted from firefighter to lieutenant at Tower Ladder 12 in Chelsea, following in the footsteps of his ancestor, who escaped from the Emerald Isle to become one of the Big Apple’s bravest men.
“My great-grandfather was one of the first paid firefighters in New York City, so it’s kind of been a family tradition and a family profession,” Clark told The Post.
“My grandfather was a fireman, my father was a policeman, so we've all been firemen and policemen since the Irish Potato Famine,” he said, referring to a painful period in Irish history that killed around one million people between 1845 and 1851.
He said his pioneer great-grandfather, Patrick Conaghan, put out fires “all over Manhattan” from the mid-1800s after immigrating.
“My middle name is Conaghan, so I'm named after him,” he said. “I'm fifth generation.”
He said his new high position was an honour his late relatives would have been proud of.
“It means a lot, it's a huge responsibility, it's a huge tradition to carry on, not only with my family, but with the job as well,” he said. “It's your obligation to train and get better and trust the people around you, make sure everyone goes home and does the right thing.”
Clark said he now has a 13-day-old daughter – but it's not yet clear whether she will also join the police force.
“Right now we're just trying to breastfeed,” she said.
Clark, along with about 70 other FDNY members, was promoted in a ceremony held at the Ocean Breeze Track and Field Facility on Staten Island.
In total, six employees were promoted to the rank of Captain, three were promoted to the rank of Supervisor Fire Marshal, 32 were promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, 29 were promoted to the rank of Fire Marshal.
“Congratulations to all of you,” FDNY Chief Robert Tucker He said to him, “Your promotion today makes you the leader of the largest fire department in the world.”
