William Friedberg Medal

Lieutenant Edward T. Curley
Ladder Company 103

December 5, 2002, 0517 hours
Box 75-1742
561 Vermont Street, Brooklyn

Appointed to the FDNY on March 5, 1984. Previously assigned to Rescue 4 and Engine 227. Member of the Emerald Society. Cited for bravery once previously. Resides in East Northport, Long Island, with his wife, Barbara, and their children, John and Samantha.

The Sheffield Avenue firehouse has been one of the busiest fire stations in the FDNY during the past 40 years. Valuable firefighting and lifesaving techniques are learned while working tours at this firehouse. Confidence and knowledge are increased with each passing tour. This confidence and rescue knowledge were evident and came into play during an early-morning fire in December 2002.

It was cold and dark on Thursday, December 5, 2002, during the early-morning hours when all appeared to be quiet in the East New York section of Brooklyn on Vermont Street. Then, shortly after 0500 hours at the Brooklyn fire dispatchers’ office, numerous phone calls were coming in for a fire at 561 Vermont Street, indicating there were people trapped in this two-story building.

Ladder 103 member uses Halligan tool to vent. photo by Christian Portella

Brooklyn Box 1742 was transmitted, assigning Ladder 103 as the first-due Ladder Company. Experienced fire Officers realize that fatal fires are prevalent in residential buildings during this time of the morning, usually because of delayed alarms. Fortunately for the occupants at this Vermont Street fire, Lieutenant Edward Curley, an experienced fire Officer, was on duty.

While responding, the Brooklyn fire dispatcher notified Ladder 103 that several calls for people trapped were being received. This unit’s members knew they were going to work. As units were approaching the fire building, a heavy smoke condition was noted and, along with all the aforementioned phone calls, indicated to Lieutenant Curley that occupants in this structure would be in trouble.

On arrival, Engine 290 transmitted the 10-75 for a fire in a two-story, private dwelling as the members of Ladder 103 went to their assigned positions. Lieutenant Curley and members of the forcible entry team were met at the front door of a first-floor apartment by an occupant who stated that her child was trapped inside the apartment.

The fire Officer quickly sized up the situation, donned his mask, then entered the apartment where he was met with a rapidly extending fire situation. The blaze had taken possession of the living room and was extending into the hallway, which could cut off any chance of search and rescue in the rear of the premises.

After informing the inside team of his intention to proceed to the rear of the apartment to search for the missing child, the blinding smoke and high heat condition forced Lieutenant Curley to the floor. Moving aggressively, but with confidence, he continued on. Even though there was no hose-line in place and there were unpredictable, dangerous conditions present, he advanced because he was sure there was a young child to be saved.

Lieutenant Curley used the firefighting experience and knowledge of search and rescue he had gained while working in Ladder 103. While moving toward the rear, he came across a motionless child.

After transmitting the appropriate 10-45 code via handie-talkie, he collected the youngster. The closest and safest egress would have been the rear, but the outside vent man of Ladder 103 reported window bars on these windows, which precluded a safe exit from this area.

The Officer now realized the only way to safety would be the front apartment door, thus passing the extending fire. While the can man of Ladder 103 temporarily held the growing fire in check, Lieutenant Curley shielded his charge, crawled past the flames and heat and successfully turned five-year-old Sara Williams over to waiting EMS personnel for transport to the hospital. Young Sara survived due to the coordinated efforts of Ladder 103 and Engine 290.

The tasks of the first-due Ladder Company members were not yet complete. After Engine 290 knocked down the main body of fire, Lieutenant Curley rounded up his team and they re-entered the fire apartment to search for possible additional victims.

Lieutenant Edward Curley’s unselfish act of courage and bravery by entering a hostile environment and searching and rescuing a young girl without the protection of a charged hose-line allows us to recognize him today. On this day, he is the pride of Sheffield Avenue and is awarded the William Friedberg Medal. —ECB