Honor Legion Medal

Firefighter Matthew R. Hagan
Ladder Company 58

March 29, 2002, 1158 hours
Box 75-2973
1956 Crotona Parkway, Bronx

Appointed to the FDNY on August 15, 1998. Father, Robert E. Hagan, is a retired Lieutenant from Ladder 59 and grandfather, Robert T. Hagan, is a retired FF from Engine 68. Brother, FF Robert D. Hagan, is assigned to Ladder 33 and uncle, FF Roger Hagan, is assigned to Engine 79. Member of the Emerald and Holy Name Societies. Cited for bravery twice previously. Holds a BS degree in Business Economics from the State University of New York at Oneonta. Resides in Chester with his wife, Denise, and their daughter, Jacqueline.

Mealtime at the firehouse is a combination of culinary expertise and the art of verbal self-defense. No one or thing is sacred at the prep table as the meal is prepared. The members of Ladder 58 were well into this lunch-time foray when the battle was brought to an abrupt halt by noise coming from the front of quarters.

Every Firefighter knows the heart-jumping sound. Hard, fast, loud and anxious banging on the front doors means only one thing: We got a job and it’s close. Sure enough, as Ladder 58 left quarters, the flames were blowing out a fifth-floor window on Crotona Parkway. As the apparatus pulled in front of the building, everyone already knew the fire was well-developed. But an even more serious problem became evident. The fire was in the window on the fire escape. If victims were trapped from getting to the front door, there was no way out unless Ladder 58 members removed them.

FF Matthew Hagan was assigned the can position and proceeded to the fire apartment with FF Thomas Delgrosso on the irons and their Officer, Lieutenant John Browne. As these FDNY members reached the fifth floor, smoke engulfed the entire hallway. The forcible entry team could feel intense heat pouring from the open door of the apartment.

The firefighting Hagans--FF Roger Hagan, Engine 79; FF Robert D. Hagan, Ladder 33; Lieutenant Robert E. Hagan, Ladder 59 (retired); and FF Matthew R. Hagan, Ladder 58. photo courtesy of FF Matthew R. Hagan.

Lieutenant Browne realized that they must get to the fire room and close the door to keep the fire from extending up the stairs and endangering the entire building. FF Hagan crawled in the apartment to stay below the blistering heat that was roiling above him. Deep into the apartment, he found the fire room wide open with flames pushing out and over his head.

FF Hagan attempted to hold the fire with his extinguisher while Lieutenant Browne attempted to close the door. The Officer crawled beneath the flames and tried to pull the door closed, but it already had burnt through. FF Delgrosso now rejoined the forcible entry team after assisting a civilian in the hallway to an area of safety. Lieutenant Browne ordered FF Delgrosso to attempt to get another door to block the fire in the room, but their position quickly was becoming untenable.

Lieutenant Browne and the forcible entry team’s vibralerts from their masks were starting to go off, signifying they had only six minutes of air left. With the fire now raging around them--unconfined--Lieutenant Browne ordered FFs Hagan and Delgrosso to withdraw to the hallway to await arrival of the hose-line and change their air bottles.

The two Firefighters and Officer were withdrawing when Battalion 18 Battalion Chief James Nichols alerted Lieutenant Browne that a person was missing from the fire apartment. That stopped all three forcible entry team members in their tracks. Their air was running out, but without hesitation and in total disregard for their own personal safety, FFs Hagan and Delgrosso and Lieutenant Browne reversed their retreat and resumed the search.

FF Hagan could feel the intensifying heat above him, so he crawled beneath a table in the foyer area to shield himself while continuing further into the apartment. FF Hagan made his way down a small hallway to the bathroom where he found Raul Lopez, a very large man, unconscious on the floor.

FF Hagan’s air now was critically low and he was pushed to the limits of physical endurance, but he refused to relent until he removed Mr. Lopez to safety. While dragging Mr. Lopez beneath the advancing fire, FF Delgrosso joined FF Hagan and together, they were able to remove the victim to the waiting EMS unit. EMS transported Mr. Lopez to the hospital for treatment.

FF Hagan’s tremendous strength and courage in an extremely dangerous situation epitomize the finest traditions of the New York City Fire Department. For his heroic act, he is awarded the Honor Legion Medal today. —CB and SB