Firefighter Rescues Two From Queens Apartment Fire

Firefighter Michael Cunningham from Ladder 150 may not want to call himself a hero, but two women from Queens most certainly do.

He rescued both of them from an all-hands fire at 196-03 Jamaica Avenue on June 28.

“I was able to rely on my training and what I have learned from [other firefighters’] experience, and without panicking, carry out the job,” said Firefighter Cunningham, a four-year veteran of the FDNY. “I’m just happy it all worked out OK.”

At 6:47 p.m., firefighters were called to a fire in a first floor apartment of a two-story multiple dwelling in Hollis, Queens.

Within two minutes firefighters from Ladder 150 arrived on the scene, finding a heavy fire and smoke condition.

Firefighter Cunningham said he went through an alley and cut the lock off a gate to reach the rear of the building, where he found fire blowing out the windows of a first floor apartment. He also noticed a woman on the second floor who was threatening to jump.

“I told her to stay at the window and I’d be right back with the ladder, and thank God she did,” said Firefighter Cunningham.

He grabbed the ladder and Firefighter E. J. Maloney from Ladder 150 helped him place it below the second floor window.

After she was pulled to safety, the two firefighters moved the ladder to the window of an apartment directly above the fire. Although it was dangerous for him to enter the apartment, Firefighter Cunningham said: “It’s not good for the people above the fire apartment in a non-fireproof building either, it’s the last place you want to be.”

He located a second woman, who was semi-conscious, near the front door of the apartment.

Although firefighters often try to remove victims through the hallway and out the front door, Firefighter Cunningham said that he knew the hallway would be untenable. So he pulled her to the window where Firefighter Maloney had climbed the ladder to meet them.

After the job, Firefighter Cunningham was quick to praise firefighters from Engine 301, who extinguished the fire in about 30 minutes.

He also commended Firefighter Maloney, saying, “I never had to look far over my shoulder to see E.J. behind me. I couldn’t have done it without him.”

As for his own actions, Firefighter Cunningham repeatedly credited the extensive training he received at the Fire Academy and the knowledge he has gained from senior firefighters in his company.

“This is obviously a good thing, it really shows you that the training we receive on this job pays off,” he said. “It feels great when you‘re prepared for something like that and you’re able to execute it.”