Firefighters Battle Two Fires in Two Boroughs

FDNY firefighters were busy on Feb. 23, battling two fires with multiple victims on Feb. 23 - one in Manhattan and the other in Queens

FDNY firefighters were busy on Feb. 23, battling two fires with multiple victims on Feb. 23 - one in Manhattan and the other in Queens.

Firefighters were called to the scene of a fire in a 17-story high-rise on Pearl Street in Manhattan at 7:35 a.m.

As members rushed to the scene, dispatchers were telling them that they were receiving reports of people hanging out the windows of the eighth floor, where the fire was said to be located.

"Right away we knew time was of the essence," said Battalion 1 Chief Ron Schmutzler. "If people are already on the ledge, it tells me it's already bad inside."

Upon arrival, though, the Chief said they did not see anyone on the ledges and the first-responding engine and ladder companies made their way inside.

Moments later, the Chief said he heard a woman scream from above, but when he looked up, he did not see anyone. She then reappeared a minute later and they saw she was standing with her mother and a baby.

In the window adjacent to hers, they saw a man standing by himself, tying bed sheets together, starting to lower them out the window. He then climbed onto the ledge and looks poised to jump.

Chief Schmutzler said he called for the ladder company to move the tower ladder into position.

Meanwhile, after climbing eight flights of stairs in full gear, the members of Ladder 1 were inside the fire apartment, searching for the fire and trying to get to the victims as Engine 6 was getting the hoseline in place to extinguish the fire.

Outside, the Ladder 1 chauffeur and members of Ladder 6 put a tiller ladder adjacent to the building and move it toward the eighth floor. It was positioned one to two feet from the window when the man jumped onto it and started climbing down.

The Chief said others urged him to take the baby, so he grabbed the child before rushing down.

Chief Schmutzler said he was worried about everyone's safety as the women looked poised to jump, so he was on the street with a bull horn urging everyone else to remain inside. He said the fire was extinguished and firefighters were coming to get them from inside the building.

Firefighter Billy Benitez from Ladder 1 met the man towards the top of the ladder and took the baby from the man. He then climbed down and handed the baby to Firefighter Sal D'Agostino from Ladder 6. The man then climbed down the ladder between the two firefighters, and Firefighter D'Agostino urged him to remain calm and slowly climb down.

Firefighter Benitez then climbed to the top of the ladder and urged the women to stay in the apartment. He reminded them that they were out of danger.

The fire was placed under control by 8:15 a.m. Fire marshals determined the cause of the fire was unattended candles.

"It couldn't have gone more smoothly; I'm so proud of these guys," Chief Schmutzler said. "We had our hands full for a little while, but it was a great rescue and everything worked out really well."

Just hours earlier, firefighters responded to a fire on Rockaway Boulevard in Queens just before 3 a.m.

The two-story residence had heavy fire on the second floor. Firefighters were able to get it under control in less than 30 minutes.

Eight residents suffered minor injuries, with six being transported to Jamaica Hospital. Three firefighters also received minor injuries in the fire.