 Community
Mayors, Inc./ Lt. Robert R. Dolney Medal
Firefighter Edwin M. Anzalone
Ladder Company 28
February 12, 2003, 0004 hours, Box 75-1639, 557 West 148th Street, Manhattan
Appointed to the FDNY on September 14, 1987. Previously assigned to Engines
221 and 69. Cousin, FF Kevin Tonkin, is retired from Ladder 116; uncle, FF Frank
Tonkin, is retired from Ladder 116; cousin, FF Thomas Anderson, is assigned
to Squad 270; and cousin, Deputy Chief James Daly, is assigned to Division 3.
Cited for bravery four times previously.
Company members take great pride in teaching and passing on information--information
that was learned today, yesterday and through generations of firefighting careers--and
that ultimately, might save a life. Members also take pride in leading by example,
demonstrating initiative and a work ethic of getting the job done. In the early-morning
hours of February 12, 2003, The Harlem Hilton displayed these attributes as
members responded to a report of fire at 557 West 148th Street in Harlem.
At 0004 hours, Engine 69 and Ladder 28 responded to a phone alarm for fire in
apartment 1-H. On arrival, a heavy smoke condition was visible in the public
hallway on the first floor. Lieutenant Kevin Flanagan, Ladder 28, transmitted
a 10-75 signal.
As Engine 69 began to stretch the first line, Lieutenant Flanagan and the members
of the inside team--FFs Edwin Anzalone with the irons and Robert Roderka with
the can--proceeded into the lobby of the six-story, non-fireproof multiple dwelling.
The fire apartment door was hot to the touch and locked. FF Anzalone sized up
the door and immediately began working on it with FF Roderka. The door had three
locks in place, one of which was an engaged chain. This was a signal that someone
probably was inside.
As they forced open the door, they encountered heavy smoke and a high heat condition.
Additionally, something was blocking the door because they could open it only
approximately 12 inches. FF Anzalone felt behind the door for a possible victim,
but instead found rubbish and a dresser that blocked their entry, signaling
possible Collyers’ mansion-like conditions.
After being informed by the outside vent man that the three front windows all
had heavy iron gates and an iron fence blocking access, Lieutenant Flanagan
ordered the inside team to remove the door on the hinged side to gain entry.
Once the door was removed, the members of Ladder 28 crawled in among the trash
and thick black smoke.
Leading the way, FF Anzalone crawled past the burning bedroom to search deeper
into the apartment. He went into the living room, feeling for any possible victims.
As his search continued, he came upon a couch near the window and found the
unconscious body of Michael Kavalhuna. The Firefighter immediately notified
Lieutenant Flanagan, who relayed the 10-45 to Battalion 13.
FF Anzalone began to remove the large and heavy man back toward the apartment
entrance. He knew he would have to pass the fire with the victim to complete
the removal. With the assistance of FF Roderka and two members of Engine 69,
they completed removal of the victim, who weighed more than 300 pounds.
In cardiac arrest, the victim was passed on to Engine 84 members who began CPR
and revived him in the ambulance. He went into arrest again in the emergency
room and hospital staff revived the victim. Mr. Kavalhuna survived this blaze
and all that followed, recovered and walked out of the hospital a few days later.
Had it not been for FF Anzalone’s aggressiveness, Mr. Kavalhuna most likely
would not be alive today.
FF Anzalone found the victim and completed his rescue, all without the benefit
of a charged hand-line. For these reasons, he is recognized by the City of New
York and by his peers, too. It is with great pride that the FDNY presents FF
Edwin M. Anzalone with the Community Mayors, Inc./Lt. Robert R. Dolney Medal.--TW
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