By FDNY
NEW YORK — Firefighters from multiple companies responded together on Thanksgiving Day to save the lives of five Brooklyn residents, including an infant boy.
“Everyone from every company that day went above and beyond to do all they could for the victims,” Firefighter Andrew Hartshorne of Ladder 110 said.
The fire at 615 President Street was first reported to 911 at 12:17 p.m. on Thursday November 24. Squad 1 was the first FDNY unit on scene, arriving in 2 minutes and 27 seconds to find heavy smoke pushing out the rear of the three story brownstone.
Additional units arrived knowing there were multiple victims trapped inside the apartment, based on information obtained from calls to 911.
Firefighter David Newbery from Rescue 2, along with members of Ladder 105, removed an unconscious male infant from the apartment, which was fully engulfed in flames. Once outside, Firefighter Neil Malone from Engine 239 and Firefighter Hartshorne began CPR on the unconscious child.
“I felt the baby’s pulse come back and he took a breath,” Firefighter Malone said. “It’s a song to your ears to hear that baby’s breath come back.”
A second victim, a 20-year-old female, was removed from a top floor window by Firefighter Richard Myers of Rescue 2. Firefighter Myers then entered the window of the apartment, without the aid of a charged hoseline, and found an unconscious 35-year-old male. Firefighter Myers removed the victim using the tower ladder bucket from Ladder 105, with the help of Firefighter Matt Bender.
Firefighter Matthew Sangirardi from Ladder 105, along with firefighters from Rescue 2 also removed an unconscious 20-year-old female from the apartment using the tower ladder bucket.
Prior to arrival of Firefighters, a 21-year-old male had jumped from a top floor window and landed on an awning on the second floor, suffering burns and deep lacerations in the process. Firefighter Matthew Hanley from Ladder 122 was able to quickly remove him using a portable ladder.
Deputy Chief Kevin Woods summed up the operation, stating “there are five people alive today due to the coordinated efforts of the FDNY and that is something we are all very thankful for this Thanksgiving.”
Republished with permission from FDNY