 Hispanic
Society Memorial Medal
Firefighter Richard P. Davan
Ladder Company 123
January 23, 2003, 0640 hours, Box 22-946, 1430 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
Appointed to the FDNY on July 13, 1987. Now a Lieutenant assigned to Battalion
40, he was previously assigned to Ladder 123 and Engines 234 and 240. Father,
Captain Robert Davan, is retired from Engine 264; brother, Lieutenant Gerry
Davan, is retired from Battalion 42; brother, Lieutenant Brian Davan, is assigned
to Ladder 28; brother-in-law, Captain Michael Thompson, is assigned to Engine
257; and nephew, FF Ryan Davan, is assigned to Engine 93. Member of the Emerald
Society and Company Officers Association. Cited for bravery on two previous
occasions. Additionally, recipient of the Daily News Hero of the Month Award
(February 2003) and the New York Post Liberty Medal.
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(Top) The boys from St. John’s East congratulate FF (now Lieutenant)
Richard Davan. (Bottom) Three generations of the Davan
firefighting family get together for this photo.
photos courtesy of Lieutenant Richard Davan |
Of all the positions that a Firefighter can be assigned, one of the most challenging
is the outside vent (OV) position. This assignment requires
experience and initiative from the Firefighter. At a two-alarm
fire on January 23, 2003, FF Richard P. Davan of Ladder Company
123--one half of St. John’s East--displayed bravery,
initiative and resourcefulness in this position and his actions
resulted in the rescue of a young girl trapped by an extending
fire.
At 0640 hours, Ladder 123 was assigned as the second-due truck
for a fire at 1430 Fulton Street, a four-story, class three,
multiple dwelling with three apartments. While the Truck Company
was en route, the dispatcher informed the members that people
were trapped on the fourth floor.
The fire was on the second floor and extending to the third
floor and public hallway. FF Davan, assigned as the OV, attempted
to make his way to the rear of the building through one of
the exposures and also via a portable ladder. He quickly realized
that neither route was practical and that an alternate route
to the rear of the building was necessary.
FF Davan decided to ascend 123 Truck’s aerial ladder
to the roof and then drop down the rear fire escape to the
top floor. Once done, FF Davan entered the top floor from
the fire escape and began to conduct a search for trapped
occupants. The fire now had extended up the interior stairway
to the ceiling and walls of the public hallway, endangering
FF Davan and the occupants of the fourth floor.
The top floor was full of intense heat and a blinding smoke
condition. FF Davan continued his search in the punishing
conditions until he found Donna Jones, an 8-year-old girl,
and transmitted the 10-45. He learned via the radio that an
aggressive interior attack on the fire by the Engine Companies
had knocked down the fire in the hallway.
FF Davan then picked up the young girl and raced down the
interior stairs to the street where he turned the child’s
care over to EMS. The youngster was transported by ambulance
to Kings County Hospital. Because of the severe smoke inhalation
she sustained, the hospital staff had her transported to the
decompression chamber at Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx.
For his initiative and bravery in rescuing a trapped young
girl, FF Richard P. Davan is honored today by the FDNY and
presented with the Hispanic Society Memorial Medal.--NG
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