Henry D. Brookman Medal

Captain John A. Joyce
Ladder Company 155

November 11, 2002, 0818 hours
Box 22-4796
134-03 Rockaway Boulevard, Queens

Appointed to the FDNY on April 8, 1985. Previously assigned to Battalion 50, Ladder 108 and Engines 216 and 278. Brother, Captain Timothy Joyce, is assigned to Ladder 170 and brother, Lieutenant Daniel Joyce, is assigned to Ladder 158. Member of the Cycle Club. Holds a BS degree in Criminal Justice from St. John’s University. Resides in Bayville, Long Island, with his wife, Karen, and their two children, Jack and Erin.

Sometimes, fire causes are not accidental, such as arson, particularly arson with the intent to kill. Such was the situation facing Captain John A. Joyce and the other members of Ladder 155 on the fall morning of November 11, 2002. At 0818 hours, a short time before the change of shifts, 155 Truck was directed to respond to Box 4796 for a structural fire in a 25- x 80-foot, two-story, non-fireproof building at the corner of 134th Street and Rockaway Boulevard, a few blocks from quarters. A commercial occupancy was on the first floor and one apartment was on the second floor.

The brothers Joyce--Lieutenant Daniel, Captain John and Captain Timothy. photo courtesy of Captain John A. Joyce

At 0820 hours, Engine 302 transmitted the 10-75 for a very heavy fire condition in the first-floor hallway, which led up to the second floor. There was also heavy fire on the second floor with extension to the cockloft. Since Engine 302 could not determine the amount of fire and its origin, the Company transmitted a second alarm and began stretching a 21/2-inch hand-line to the first floor.

Simultaneously, members of Ladder 155 were informed by bystanders that a man was visible at a window on the second floor. He was driven back into the apartment because of heavy smoke and flames venting from the doorway of the first floor up to the second floor on the outside of the building.

Captain Joyce ordered the irons man to cut open the roll-down gates and other locks on the first floor of the building. He then took the can man, FF Michael Spatz, with him to rescue the man trapped on the second floor.

Entering the first-floor hallway/staircase to the second floor, Captain Joyce encountered heavy fire in the hallway and on the stairway, car floor jacks, oil and other flammable automotive materials. Captain Joyce and FF Spatz removed all the objects in their way. Then, the Captain ran up the severely burnt and damaged staircase.

Engine 302 opened up the hose-line and knocked down the fire in the hallway and on the lower part of the stairs. When Captain Joyce reached the second floor, he was met with piles of trash, bicycle and automobile parts, debris on fire and heavy fire above him and in all the rooms on the second floor. The Captain ordered FF Spatz to join him on the second floor and search, but to remain near the stairs with the can and advise if conditions changed.

Captain Joyce began searching the rooms to his right and was confronted with high heat and fire. He informed Lieutenant John Farina of Engine 302--who was on the first floor--of the heavy fire conditions on the second floor and that he would be ahead of the hand-line in a life-threatening position. Additionally, as members were making their way up to the second floor via the damaged stairway, he told them not to open the hand-line until he reported back.

As he was conducting the primary search, Captain Joyce came across a closed door to the living room that was blocked and could not be opened. He used the Halligan tool and his hands to force his way through the top half of the door. After breaking down the top half of the door, Captain Joyce entered the room by crawling over the bottom half and behind the door--which was covered in burning debris--and found the victim, 40-year-old Derrick Stafford. Captain Joyce transmitted the 10-45.

Simultaneously, he heard the sound of breaking glass as other Firefighters were venting the window to the room. Members of Engine 302 began operating the hand-line and knocking down the fire on the second floor and in the cockloft. Lieutenant Farina informed the Captain that the heavily damaged stairs would make for a difficult exit and he suggested that Captain Joyce move Mr. Stafford in the direction of the window.

Captain Joyce, Lieutenant Farina and FF Spatz lifted Mr. Stafford and placed him in the bucket of Tower Ladder 142, which had been repositioned to assist in the rescue. The victim was transported to the Nassau County Medical Center burn unit in critical condition, suffering from second- and third-degree burns over 50 percent of his body, as well as smoke inhalation. FM Lawrence Rottkamp determined that Mr. Stafford was the target of an arsonist.

During the rescue, Captain Joyce’s mask was knocked off and he suffered smoke inhalation, which caused a high carbon monoxide count. He was placed on medical leave. He praised the efforts of the Vipers Nest--Engine 302 and Ladder 155--and the assistance they gave him in effecting this rescue.

For his brave actions in rescuing Mr. Stafford, the FDNY is proud to recognize Captain John A. Joyce today and honor him with the Henry D. Brookman Medal.—NG