Hugh Bonner Medal

Firefighter John F. McGuinness
Ladder Company 55

December 10, 2002, 0828 hours
Box 75-2301
800 Concourse Village West, Bronx

Appointed to the FDNY on July 25, 1993. Brother, FF James McGuinness, is assigned to Ladder 23. Member of the Holy Name and Emerald Societies. Resides in Goshen with his wife, Kate Schmidt.

Firefighter John McGuinness was working back to back, 6x9 and 9x6 tours on December 9 and 10, 2002. The previous night had been relatively uneventful for the busy south Bronx Ladder 55--a few runs for rubbish and other minor incidents. That changed abruptly.

At 0828 hours, the voice alarm ordered Ladder 55, under the command of Captain John Frawley (covering), to respond first due to Box 2301. The fire building, 800 Concourse Village West, is a high-rise, multiple dwelling with 242 apartments.

The forcible entry team, including Captain Frawley and FFs John McGuinness (irons man) and John Porpora (can man), proceeded to the fire apartment--2B--on the third floor. Heavy smoke under pressure was pushing out around the door. When FF McGuinness forced the door, high heat and heavy, acrid smoke blasted out. All three men were forced to their knees as they began their search in zero visibility.
Captain Frawley and FF Porpora hugged the right wall, while FF McGuinness began his search to the left. Encountering more and more heat, FF McGuinness located a fully involved bedroom. Calling to Captain Frawley that he had located the fire, FF McGuinness moved toward the bedroom in order to close the door.

Ladder Company 55 in action.

Unable to do so, FF McGuinness was about to back out when he heard what he thought was a low moan coming from down a hallway past the fire. Heavy fire now was blasting out of the bedroom and rolling along the hallway ceiling from where the moan originated.

FF McGuinness knew that if there was a person in the hallway, he was this individual’s only chance for survival, especially since it would be a while before a charged line could be brought into position. Without hesitation and at great personal risk, FF McGuinness dove under the fire pushing from the bedroom. Crawling down the hallway deeper into the apartment, he located Teresa Rogers. Unable to drag her back through the fire, FF McGuinness dragged her into a bathroom at the end of the hall for some temporary shelter.

At this point, Captain Frawley and FF Porpora caught up with FF McGuinness. Using the can, FF Porpora was able to hold the fire back long enough for FF McGuinness to drag Ms. Rogers under the fire to relative safety. Once past the fire, FF McGuinness, aided by Captain Frawley, dragged the victim into the public hallway. Near complete exhaustion, FF McGuinness slipped and fell while still dragging Ms. Rogers. The fall caused him to dislocate his shoulder and break his arm.

FF McGuinness exhibited courage and perseverance in the best traditions of the New York City Fire Department while effecting this rescue. Ms. Rogers suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation and almost certainly would have perished if FF McGuinness had wavered in his determination.

FF McGuinness was confronted with high heat and heavy smoke as he crawled beneath this fire without the protection of a charged line, placing himself at great personal risk. For these reasons, FDNY today is pleased and proud to award FF McGuinness with the Hugh Bonner Medal —GAA