Funeral Held for Lt. John Martinson

Lt. John Martinson of Engine 249 was laid to rest on January 8 after a funeral mass at the Church of St. Clare in Staten Island.

The 14-year veteran of the FDNY sustained critical injuries while fighting a two-alarm fire at the Ebbets Field Houses, 1700 Bedford Avenue, in Brooklyn on January 3.

“He was the go-to guy in the firehouse,” said Captain Thomas Reilly of Engine 249. “He was a dedicated firefighter and a man others were willing to follow.”

He added that Lt. Martinson, 40, was always the first firefighter on the rig and the first one ready for action.

Many added that firefighting was in his blood. His father, Firefighter John O. Martinson, enjoyed a 31-year career with the FDNY.

“He modeled himself after the best of the Bravest,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. “Lt. Martinson was a hero who never gave a second thought to putting himself in harms way to help others.”

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta added, “John’s time on this earth was much too short, but he took advantage of every moment of it.”

After working for nearly four years as a police officer for the NYPD, Lt. Martinson joined the FDNY in 1993 at Engine 204. He also worked at Engine 80 and Ladder 23 before being promoted to lieutenant in 2002. He joined Engine 249/Ladder 113 in March 2006.

He earned the firehouse nickname “Johnny Nice Guy” and was described by fellow firefighters as generous, strong, tenacious and brave. He became legendary for his frequent, witty one-liners and loved good-humored arguments.

He also was handy, rebuilding his home - a house his grandfather built just steps from his childhood home - from the ground up.

But his first love was his family, including his wife, Jessica, and 22-month-old son, John Patrick. His wife is expecting their second child in May.

Firefighters from Engine 249/Ladder 113 said they will continue to support the family and keep the Lieutenant’s memory alive by finishing the rebuilding of their Staten Island home.

“My brother was a friend, firefighter, husband, father, son and brother,” said Steven Martinson. “He was many things to many people and he will live in our hearts forever.”