Trapped Trio


On June 26, 2007, Newark, New Jersey Fire Station 3124 responded to a four-story apartment building where the residents, supposedly, had been evacuated. Engines 9 & 15 had just initiated an interior attack on the blaze when the battalion chief spotted three occupants on the fourth floor. So, E-7 Captain William Murnane ascended to the fourth level (without a protective hose line) to locate the trapped trio. Once he found them, descent via the interior stairway was no longer possible—the captain set about reassuring the victims until further assistance could arrive. With Ladders 7 & 1 committed to vertical ventilation of the roof, Ladder 11 came to the rescue. First, the apparatus had to be maneuvered as close as possible—a distance of approximately five buildings. Firefighters Krzysztof Sroka and Abnathy Mason then scaled the nearly fully-extended aerial ladder above the heavy fire and smoke issuing from the windows below. The trio was then guided to safety. Capt. Murnane remained on the fourth floor alongside the members of his crew who had arrived with a hose line. Thanks to these three dedicated men, this was a rescue, not a recovery!

Car in Creek


On July 4, Golden, Colorado, off-duty fire fighter Joe Leonhard observed a vehicle in a creek. Then he spotted the driver struggling in the rapidly moving water. Leonhard sprang into action, rescuing the woman despite his lack of adequate equipment. He also stayed on scene, assisting responders until she was transported. Leonhard’s actions surely prevented the victim from being swept further downstream, and drowning.

The Height of Suspense


On July 16, Colorado Springs Engine 13 and Heavy Rescue 17 were called to a site notorious for very dangerous high-angle rescue scenarios. Of course the cold, wet weather merely compounded problems. A 21-yearold male was clinging by the tips of his fingers, with the toes of his feet on a very small rock shelf, for hours over the falls in Queens Canon. He informed rescuers that his fingers had gone numb and his legs were becoming increasingly weak. Lt. Dan Romero and Lt. Tim De Leon found a route that was extremely precarious, but was also the quickest way to the victim. De Leon was able to get close enough to secure himself on the sheer rock wall above Romero in order to act as an anchoring point to belay him. As Romero inched closer, the victim’s pleading increased—he could not hold on much longer. Just as Romero secured a rope around the man, he fell. Bravely the lieutenant pushed out and grabbed the victim, positioning his body to take the brunt of the impact as they swung back toward the cliff. Above, De Leon was able to control the belay locking down the rope so that both men would not drop any further. Although they put themselves in extreme danger to save another person’s life, the episode had a happy ending for all involved.

St. Louis, Missouri Officers Edward Finger (left) and James Karase (right)

 

Trapped Toddler


St. Louis, Missouri Officers Edward and James Karase were the first to arrive at a house fire last December, where they broke a window and rescued an unconscious 4-year-old. The pair were presented with their plaques by PFIA member Sgt. Byron Watson (center), during his retirement party. For more details, please refer to the Spring 2008 issue, page 7.

Unwilling Accomplice

On August 21, Cleveland, Ohio, Detective Darryl Johnson encountered an Aggravated Robbery in progress while patrolling in his unmarked car. Shots were fired at the victim on premises and at Det. Johnson as the two suspects fled. Johnson called in the offense and followed one of the young men to the park where he met up with the other. The shooter then fled again, while the accomplice was easily detained and surrendered two handguns. He claimed he was high on extascy and did not really know the shooter, nor had he wanted to participate in the crime; he was charged with robbery nonetheless.

Officer Saves Citizens


On January 17, 2008, a Traverse City, Michigan, police officer braved a blaze and led two citizens to safety. Common sense told PO Mark Lyon he should not be trying to rescue people from a burning building, but at the same time he knew he could not stand by while people needed help. He held his breath as much as possible and headed through the choking smoke to the second floor. He easily located the pair of occupants and guided them outside. The entire apartment building was gutted by flames, but thanks to Officer Lyon, no one was hurt.

St. louis Saviours


At approximately 6:47 a.m., on February 13, five St. Louis Fire Engines and other apparatus were assigned to a house fire with “persons trapped.” The first to arrive, members of E-24 were able to discern three men trapped behind a locked iron security door in the heavy smoke. They also reported heavy fire showing from the basement and first floor. With no time to lose, Acting Capt. Dale Wells, FF Gregg Favre, FF Todd May, and FF Frank Hornberg (E-27A subbing E- 24A) immediately began efforts to gain access with a K-12 Rescue Saw. In a few minutes they breached the iron door and disengaged the locking mechanism. All three civilians were taken to a waiting ambulance where they received emergency treatment
and transportation to the hospital for burns and smoke inhalation. Following the rescue, all companies engaged in an aggressive, offensive fire-fighting attack, beginning in the exterior basement entryway. The blaze was contained and extinguished without further incident. Undoubtedly, the rapid reactions by the members of E-24 mitigated a potentially lethal situation. St. Louis is proud to call them their own!


Fire Fighter Follows his Instincts


A probationary fire fighter in Middletown, New Jersey, said he was just following his instincts when he rescued a woman on March 26. The resident had gone back into her burning home to retrieve a pet, but ended up disoriented in the midst of a burning room on the second floor. William Kacen fought his way up the stairs to her through waves of black smoke without SCBA or turnout gear. Astoundingly, he found the woman trying to make a call on her cell phone—by the time he had ushered her to the door, she lost consciousness. The victim came round within an hour and was extremely grateful toward her rescuer.

Forgotten Infant


An off-duty South Metro, Colorado, fire fighter endangered his own life to save an infant on April 21. Jeff Pepper was heading to dinner with his family when he spied smoke. He immediately drove toward the black plume and saw that no fire apparatus had responded yet. Pepper spoke to the homeowner, who reported that her children were safe, but her dogs remained inside. So, Jeff entered the house unprotected, quickly locating both animals. As he returned them to their owner, a neighbor inquired after her newborn child. The woman began screaming—she had forgotten the baby! By this point, the house was filled with a moderate amount of smoke and heat, but Pepper did not hesitate as he searched for the room with the crib. He found the child sleeping and got outside just as the house became engulfed by flames. Thank goodness this dedicated fire fighter lived nearby, and the young new-born child has a full life to live.

Heroes Hall of Fame & Meritorious Service Award L-R: ABM Tom Glampletro, Capt. William Kenyon, and fire fighters Joseph Vingi, Daniel Riwaldi, and Gregory McGee. (Not pictured, Sgt. Carl Weston)

Daring Drawbridge Rescue


Several Providence, Rhode Island, first responders risked their own safety rescuing a suicidal woman on October 19, 2007. She had ingested 300 Tylenol PM before scaling an old, upraised, 134-foot-long drawbridge. Patrolman Dwight Eddy (MSA) carefully picked his way along the damaged trestle toward the drawbridge. He then climbed the steep 20-foot-long metal stairway to a 3-by- 10-foot landing (without railings) to talk her down from above. Sgt. Carl Weston (MSA), who recently received FBI training in crisis negotiation, came out to assist. PFD Special Hazards-1 crew arrived with high-angle rescue equipment. Capt. William Kenyon (HHF) anchored himself to the swaying drawbridge and FF Joseph Vingi (HHF) anchored himself to Kenyon. Vingi went up about 80 feet over the water to reach the now drowsy woman. Vingi was able to talk her into a rescue harness, and strap her back to his chest. Together they scooted down the slick surface until Vingi and Kenyon could help her across the landing and down the 20-foot-long stairway. She was then lowered in a Stokes litter to FF Daniel Rinaldi (MSA) and FF Gregory McGee (MSA) and transported to a hospital.

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