New York State Honorary Fire Chiefs Association Medal

Battalion Chief James Marketti
Battalion 31 (assigned)
Battalion 48 (detailed)

February 14, 2002, 0717 hours
Box 22-3742
455 East 26th Street, Brooklyn

Appointed to the FDNY on September 2, 1978. Previously assigned to Ladders 176, 30 and 108 and Engine 285. Cited for bravery three times previously. Resides in Queens with his wife, Anne, and their sons, James, Daniel and Matthew.

Ironically, many fires that start during the early hours do not become visible or detected until people begin to go about their normal routines. This was the case on February 14th, Valentine’s Day, 2002. The Brooklyn dispatcher received the call for a fire at 455 East 26th Street. This neighborhood is known for its tree-lined streets and old, stately dwellings--known as “Queen Annes”--in which a fire can spread quite rapidly. Box 3742 was transmitted immediately.

The first-arriving units quickly gave a 10-75 signal and were faced with a three-story “Queen Anne” with heavy fire showing on the second floor and a heavy smoke condition throughout the rest of the building. Engine 255, the first-arriving Engine, immediately stretched a 13/4-inch line up the interior stairs. With fire in control of the second floor, front to rear, it did not take long before the second-to-arrive Engine 248 quickly stretched a second line to the second floor to protect Engine 255.

Firefighter operates at Brooklyn Box 22-3742. His and other FDNY members’ efforts helped Chief Marketti facilitate the rescues. photo by Lieutenant John Leavy

Chief James Marketti, assigned as the “all-hands” Chief, arrived and was sent to the third floor to coordinate the interior operation of the units working inside. Reaching the second floor, the Chief realized this was not going to be a routine operation. There was an extremely heavy smoke and high heat condition permeating the building. Radio reports were being relayed to the interior units that people still were unaccounted for and missing.

Due to rapidly deteriorating conditions and no hose-line in place upstairs, Chief Marketti began assisting in the search as soon as he reached the third floor. With his knowledge of fires in these buildings and the high heat and crackling noise, Chief Marketti knew there was fire in the walls and most definitely in the third floor and ceiling above him. Time was not on the side of the victims or the FDNY members making the search for life.

As Chief Marketti crawled along the interior hall into a front bedroom, he heard Ladder 157’s Chauffeur, FF Dennis Barnes, give a 10-45 for an infant boy in another bedroom. The Firefighter was removing the infant to the Tower Ladder’s bucket. Speeding up his search, Chief Marketti “swept” the bed and found it empty. He then crawled around the bed where he found the unconscious, 16-year-old Jennieve Bartholomew, who was lying face down on the floor.

After transmitting the 10-45 and requesting assistance, Chief Marketti began dragging the motionless body toward the interior hall. FF Matt McDonald of Ladder 157 crawled up to assist Chief Marketti remove the victim. Once they reached the interior stair, other FDNY members assisted in removing the victim out of the building, along with other victims found by Ladder 147’s Lieutenant Tom Farragher and FF Dan Powers.

Realizing there might be more victims in that same bedroom, Chief Marketti quickly crawled back down the interior hall and re-entered the front bedroom. By now, the fire had extended and the heat necessitated that the Chief continue his search on his belly. He found a five-year-old child, Edward Charles, lying on the floor.

Once again, Chief Marketti transmitted the 10-45 signal and pulled the child’s body under his own to protect him from the searing heat that was building up in the room. He then made his way back to the interior hall and stairs where he handed the child down to another FDNY member who removed him from the building.

As Engine 255--whose aggressive and determined attack facilitated any possible rescues--made their way to the third floor, Chief Marketti stayed with the units and turned his attention to controlling this fire, which now had extended to the third floor and attic and become a second-alarm blaze.

Tragically, Ms. Bartholomew succumbed to her injuries, but due to the efforts of Chief Marketti and all the other FDNY members working at this fire, a much greater tragedy was averted.

Chief Marketti’s actions were in the highest traditions of the Department. This feat was accomplished under the most adverse conditions of heat and smoke, without the benefit of a hand-line. As Deputy Chief and Division 15 Commander Charles R. Blaich stated in his report, “Chief Marketti’s actions were deliberate and well-executed. Additionally, his leadership was instrumental in the other rescues made by units.”

For his heroic actions, Chief Marketti is awarded the New York State Honorary Fire Chiefs Association Medal. —JV