John H. Prentice Medal

Lieutenant Steven Berube
Ladder Company 133

April 5, 2002, 0746 hours
Box 75-5037
177-48 106th Avenue, Queens

In November 1998, Ladder Company 133 was organized to provide the people of South Queens--an area of high fire-related fatalities--with an extra Truck Company. At a fire on April 5, 2002, the outcome for a trapped man was just as the FDNY envisioned, thanks to Lieutenant Steven Berube, an original member of Ladder 133.

At 0746 hours, Ladder 133, one half of the Merrick Boulevard Magic, was directed to respond first-due to Box 5037 for a fire on the first floor of a two-story, 20- by 40-foot, non-fireproof multiple dwelling at 177-48 106th Avenue. When Engine Company 275 and Ladder 133 arrived at the Box, Engine 275 transmitted the 10-75 and took a hydrant.

Exiting Ladder 133’s rig, Lieutenant Berube saw heavy fire venting from a first-floor rear window on the exposure #2 side of the building. Civilians in the street said people might be trapped on the second floor and a man might be trapped on the first floor. The Officer entered the fire building through the front door and found a civilian crouching on the stairs leading to the second floor. The civilian said everyone from the second floor was out and Lieutenant Berube directed him from the burning house.

The Lieutenants Berube--Glenn and Steven. photo courtesy of Lieutenant Steven Berube

Lieutenant Berube could feel the heat coming from the first-floor apartment. He quickly checked the basement door to make sure there was no fire in the basement. Then, he and the rest of Ladder 133’s inside team--FF Keith Scharfenberger, the can man, and FF Russell Weissheier, the irons man--began to conduct a primary search of the fire apartment on the first floor.

The inside team encountered numerous boxes and pieces of furniture stored in the living room, which made the search very difficult. They attempted to go over or around the obstacles while continuing their search in the zero-visibility conditions. While searching, Lieutenant Berube located a partially blocked entrance leading from the living room to the rear hallway. He squeezed into the hallway and encountered intense heat coming from the rear of the apartment. The fire was in control of the kitchen and coming down the hallway in his direction. He was driven back by the fire and heat.

The Officer went back to the narrow opening leading to the living room and informed Captain John Snow, covering in Engine 275, that he had located the fire and directed him where to stretch the line, which was not yet inside the fire building. At this point, the window in the bedroom, which was next to the hallway, had vented and the bedroom flashed over. As a result, fire was venting from the bedroom into the hallway. Fire was coming from the kitchen and bathroom, too.

The Officer made one last effort to conduct a final search by crawling under the fire, making his way toward the rear of the apartment. In front of the burning bathroom--which was between the fully involved kitchen and bedroom--Lieutenant Berube located the unconscious body of 76-year-old James Bird. He transmitted the 10-45 and quickly dragged Mr. Bird toward the front of the building under a ceiling rolling with fire. FF Scharfenberger, now in the hallway, used the can to hit the ceiling to try and force back the approaching flames. He expended all the water in the can, but results were negligible.

Under extreme heat and with fire venting out the hallway, all FDNY members backed out of the narrow passageway. Lieutenant Berube, assisted by FF Scharfenberger, removed Mr. Bird out the front door and to safety. Once the victim was out of the building, Engine 275 resumed its attack on the fire.

Once outside the fire building, Lieutenant Berube and FF Scharfenberger began to administer first aid to Mr. Bird, who was barely breathing. Ultimately, they turned the care of Mr. Bird over to the CFR-D members. Though thoroughly exhausted, Lieutenant Berube and FF Scharfenberger went back into the fire building to continue their primary search, which proved negative.

Mr. Bird was transported by EMS to Jacobi Hospital with burns and smoke inhalation. He survived the ordeal, thanks to the bravery and efforts of Lieutenant Berube. For these reasons, he is being recognized today with the John H. Prentice Medal.—NG