Dr. J.W. Goldenkranz Medal

Lieutenant Ralph A. Tufano
Battalion 37 (assigned)
Ladder Company 113 (detailed)

February 8, 2002, 0421 hours
Box 75-1031
484 Crown Street, Brooklyn

Appointed to the FDNY on May 9, 1984. Previously assigned to Engine 205 and Ladder 166. Currently assigned to Engine 236. Brother, FF Xavier Tufano, is assigned to Ladder 161. Member of the Holy Name Society and Columbia Association. Cited for bravery on three previous occasions. Holds a technical degree from DeVry Technical Institute. Resides in Staten Island with his wife, Barbara, and their two children, Ralph, Jr., 14, and Christina, 8.

In the early-morning hours of February 8, 2002, while other members of the Department continued the tireless search for victims in lower Manhattan, Lieutenant Ralph A. Tufano again reinforced why the members of this Department are known as “New York’s Bravest.”

Lieutenant Tufano, detailed to Ladder 113 (located in the Wingate section of Brooklyn), responded as the first-due Company to a reported fire at 484 Crown Street at 0421 hours. The alarm noted that the fire was on the first floor of a two-story, private dwelling. While traveling the approximately one mile from the firehouse to the alarm Box, dispatchers confirmed a 10-75 with children trapped above the fire floor.

The Lieutenant’s current Company, Engine 236--FF Scott Frazer, Lieutenant Ralph Tufano and FFs Jim Helfrich, Augie Vaccaro and Tom Motondo. photo courtesy of Lieutenant Ralph Tufano

When Ladder 113 arrived at the scene, Lieutenant Tufano performed a quick size-up and found every window of the house, including those on the second floor, had security bars. Additionally, he was informed by the outside vent man, FF Mark Checkett, that the side and rear windows of the structure also were barred. Lieutenant Tufano reported this information via his handie-talkie. As he approached the building, an occupant informed him that there were children trapped on the second floor.

Moving quickly, Lieutenant Tufano and the inside team, made up of FFs Joseph Scaramuzzino (forcible entry) and David Martin (can), found two rooms of heavy fire, which was lapping up the interior wooden staircase to the second floor and moving toward the front door. Without waiting for a charged hose-line, Lieutenant Tufano led his team into the hallway toward the stairway where they found an extremely high heat and smoke condition.

With chances for the victims’ survival thinning, FF Martin opened up with the extinguisher from the base of the stairs as Lieutenant Tufano and FF Scaramuzzino charged up the stairs. They were forced to lie prone on the second-floor landing. Beginning their search, FF Scaramuzzino found a victim. Lieutenant Tufano--without the benefit of a charged hose-line--probed toward the rear of the building. He endured extreme heat and smoke because of a delay in opening up the roof for vertical ventilation, due to a tarred-over roof scuttle.

Lieutenant Tufano crawled through the kitchen and hallway until he found 16-year-old Mendel Friedman on the floor between his bed and the barred window in the corner of the room. Mr. Friedman was very weak and slipping in and out of consciousness. Due to the barred window and the victim’s worsening condition, Lieutenant Tufano had no choice but to drag him back to the second-floor landing.

However, as heat and exhaustion continued to take its toll, Lieutenant Tufano found that the first-floor fire had yet to be knocked down. Thus, he placed his body between Mr. Friedman and the fire. Staying low to the party wall, Lieutenant Tufano charged down the stairs--protecting Mr. Friedman all the while--into the foyer and out the front entrance.

Mr. Friedman, suffering from smoke inhalation, was turned over to EMS personnel and then transported to Kings County Hospital. Additionally, Lieutenant Tufano was given care for heat exhaustion and oxygen at the scene. He was able to return to duty. He gave kudos to the members of Ladder 113 for their courage and professionalism.

In his report of the incident, Battalion Chief Kevin J. Byrnes, 38th Battalion, noted Lieutenant Tufano’s bravery and initiative, at great personal risk, getting past severe fire conditions on the first floor without benefit of a charged hose-line and preventing more serious and perhaps fatal injuries from occurring to the victim. Additionally, Deputy Chief Vincent Mandala, Division 15, concurred, noting, “If not for his courage and determination, Mr. Friedman surely would have perished.”

For his initiative, great courage and determination displayed during this daring rescue, the Fire Department is proud to honor Lieutenant Ralph A. Tufano today with the Dr. J.W. Goldenkranz Medal. —DH