Susan Wagner Medal

Firefighter Laurence R. Parker
Ladder Company 129

September 5, 2002, 0958 hours
Box 75-4455
43-32 Kissena Boulevard, Queens

Appointed to the FDNY on April 28, 1997. Previously assigned to Engines 273 and 219 and Ladder 40. Member of the FDNY Racing Team. Reconnaissance Marine with the United States Marine Corps. Resides in Amityville, Long Island, with his wife, Maria, and their children, Matthew and Kelly.

The members of Ladder 129 knew that September 5 would be an unusual day. Rob Hylan and Channel 4 News were slated to be in quarters to tape a documentary on FF Laurence Parker. FF Parker had just completed an Ironman Competition in Hawaii in honor of the FDNY members lost at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, and the media wanted to interview him. At 0958 hours, everything was set for this event. However, a new story was about to unfold.

Members of 129 Truck gather around FF Parker. (Inset) FF Laurence Parker crosses the finish line with his children after another successful event. photos courtesy of FF Laurence Parker

Ladder 129 received a call for Box 4455 and responded. Engine 273, whose members share quarters with the Truck, was out of service. FF Jimmy Carrol chauffeured Ladder 129 to the Box, a fire on the 12th floor of a multiple dwelling. The members of Ladder 129--Lieutenant Peter Antine, Jr., and FFs Laurence Parker, Benny Rebecca, Steve Syrop and Fred Bischoff--knew they would have their hands full with no Engine in sight due to 273’s status.

The fire building was a 16-story, high-rise, multiple dwelling, measuring approximately 100 by 300 feet. The roof man, FF Rebecca, delayed venting from the floor above the fire because of the wind on the 13th floor and no hose-line in place. The other members ascended to the fire floor where they encountered heavy smoke. Reaching the fire apartment, the Firefighters forced the door, where they were confronted with a wall of fire coming from a large utility room, which had no door. FF Parker was greeted by ceiling-to-floor fire conditions.

The hose-line still was in the process of being brought up to the standpipe outlet in the attack stairwell and it would be several minutes before the fire could be attacked. FF Parker and Lieutenant Antine decided to make a move in spite of the treacherous conditions and no hose-line in place. With FFs Syrop and Bischoff covering their flank with the water can, FF Parker and Lieutenant Antine crawled past the fire to conduct a search.

FF Parker and Lieutenant Antine pushed deeper and deeper into the flat, which was cluttered with debris. Approximately 20 feet in, they found Ms. Jaswant Kaur, who was semi-conscious and badly burned.

The rescuers began removing the victim, heading toward the exit, but the fire had intensified and blocked their egress. FF Parker shielded the woman from the heat with his body and crawled with her under the fire, past the fire room and into the public hallway.

FF Parker and Lieutenant Antine then carried the victim down 12 flights of stairs to EMS personnel. Throughout the removal, they monitored the woman’s vital signs and ensured that she had an open airway. Ms. Kaur--suffering from smoke inhalation and third-degree burns to her face, hands, arms, neck, legs and back--was transported to New York Hospital and later transferred to the Cornell Burn Center.

The members of Engine 274 made an aggressive push into the fire flat.
FF Laurence Parker’s bravery and dedication in the face of overwhelming obstacles and adversity are in the best traditions of the Fire Department of the City of New York. It is with pride that FDNY presents him with the Susan Wagner Medal. —JO’B