Firefighters Rescue Four from Bronx Fire

Members of Ladder 41 operating at a fire in 2007.

Firefighters from Ladder 41 made a daring rescue on Aug. 10, saving four people from a fire in the Bronx.

The fire on Archer Road was first reported at 5:53 p.m. Within minutes, the members of Ladder 41 arrived at the scene and found four people hanging out a fifth floor window, with heavy smoke pouring over their heads.

"Right away we knew we had a heavy situation," said Lt. James Congema.

The company chauffeur, Firefighter Keith Lagan, worked to move the truck's bucket to the fifth floor window. Once in position, Firefighter Jeff Rivera worked to help the victims to safety.

At the same time, Lt. Congema, and Firefighters Bryan Monti and James Gallagher, went inside to the fire apartment and Firefighter Bryan Wolf went to the roof position.

Inside, the firefighters forced open the apartment door. The fire was located in the kitchen, with the bedrooms in the rear of the apartment.

As firefighters entered the back bedroom where the victims were located, they were already starting to move into the truck's bucket. Yet one victim said he was too scared to climb out the window, so the inside team stayed with him in the bedroom, with the door closed, and waited until the members of Engine 64 got the fire under control. After about 15 minutes, they then were able to exit down the stairs.

"It was a great team effort, they all did a great job," said Lt. Congema. "It's one thing when you drill, you're moving the bucket and there's no pressure. It's completely different when you have four people hanging out the window, it seems to move so much more slowly."