Thomas E. Crimmins Medal

Firefighter Daniel W. Powers
Engine Company 250 (assigned)
Ladder Company 147 (detailed)

February 14, 2002, 0715 hours
Box 22-3742
455 East 26th Street, Brooklyn

Appointed to the FDNY on January 26, 1997. Uncle, Fred Powers, is a retired Lieutenant from Rescue 2. Member of the Emerald Society. Attended Hunter College. Resides in Suffern with his wife, Christine, and their daughter, Callie Ann.

Being assigned to an Engine Company does not mean you will perform the related tasks associated with that Company. Details are an everyday occurrence in the Fire Department and each member has to be ready and capable to carry out whatever tasks are assigned. On Thursday, February 14, 2002, FF Daniel W. Powers of E-250 demonstrated this unique ability.

FF Powers was detailed to Brooklyn’s Ladder 147, Da’ Pride of Flatbush, and assigned to the can position on the inside team in the Truck. The tools taken by this Firefighter include a 21/2-gallon, pressurized water extinguisher and a six-foot hook. This member will be the first to put water on a fire and attempt to contain it. This member also will search and safely ventilate the contaminated area to allow trapped victims to survive.

At 0715 hours, Ladder 147 was assigned second due to a reported house fire at 455 East 26th Street. While en route, Brooklyn fire dispatchers advised the responding Companies that they were receiving numerous phone calls indicating a working fire and there were reports of people trapped on the second and third floors.

On arrival, Firefighters were confronted with heavy fire issuing from all the front windows on the second floor of a three-story, Queen Anne-type private dwelling. This kind of building presents numerous concerns--such as combustible structural components, many voids and rapid fire extension.

Lieutenant Thomas Farragher, Ladder 147’s Officer, ordered his outside team to ladder the building using portable ladders. Simultaneously, FFs Powers and McNamara--with the irons--went inside the burning building to search for trapped occupants.

Ladder 147’s members found the first-due Companies--Engine 255 and Ladder 157--trying, but unable to advance onto the fire-charged second floor because the fire was wrapping around them from the opposite direction.

A second hose-line was called for. Lieutenant Farragher ordered his members to vacate the stairs and help Engine 248 members get their line into position. When the two hose-lines finally were able to attack the fire, which, by this time, had taken control of almost the entire second floor, the members of Ladder 147 immediately raced to the third floor. Because of the delay, time was even more critical to any trapped victims. Thus, Lieutenant Farragher ordered his members to split up and search.

Conditions on the third floor were horrendous. Firefighters were forced to crawl along on their bellies due to the high heat and dense, black smoke. As they moved along, they could hear fire crackling in the walls and attic space around them. Without the protection of a hose-line, Lieutenant Farragher and FF McNamara went to the rear, while FF Powers went to the front, directly over the original fire area.

Crawling along while feeling blindly, FF Powers located a bedroom in the front of the building on the exposure #2 side. He entered the room as conditions worsened. FF Powers found a bed and proceeded to sweep the top of it with his hand. He found no one and continued on into the room. Suddenly, he found the unconscious form of 55-year-old Zelim Quamina lying on the floor at the foot of the bed. FF Powers called for assistance through his facepiece. Unheard, he realized he had to remove the injured woman immediately.

FF Powers dragged the victim from the bedroom to the hall and stairs. At this point, Lieutenant Edward Curley of Squad 1 met FF Powers. Together, they carried Ms. Quamina down and outside to safety where they began resuscitative measures to revive her. Then, she was turned over to EMS personnel who transported her to Kings County Hospital.

FF Powers' heroic actions were above and beyond the call of duty that morning. He operated in a very hazardous location, without the protection of a hose-line and performed an assignment not in the scope of his normal, day-to-day routine without any hesitation. This was a brutal and particularly destructive fire with five victims removed from the third floor.

It is with pride and honor that FDNY awards the Thomas E. Crimmins Medal to FF Daniel W. Powers for his actions.—AP