Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia Medal

Firefighter Richard S. Bailey
Ladder Company 54

April 26, 2003, 1559 hours
Box 75-2674
1766 Seward Avenue, Bronx

Appointed to the FDNY on January 26, 1997. Now assigned to Rescue 3.

April 26, 2003, was a beautiful spring day and the members of Ladder 54 were enjoying the warm weather after a brutal winter. So far, the 9 x 6 tour was routine--a few runs, but nothing outstanding.

At 1559 hours, the teleprinter came to life. Ladder 54, under the command of Captain Thomas Yuneman, was ordered to respond first due to Box 2674. The fire building at 1766 Seward Avenue was a two-story, class 3, non-fireproof private dwelling. En route, Ladder 54 heard Engine 96 give a 10-75 signal, so members knew they had a job. On arrival, heavy fire and thick black smoke were blowing out the first-floor windows.

Excited citizens informed Captain Yuneman that a woman was trapped on the floor above the fire. With the second-due truck not yet on the scene, Captain Yuneman ordered FF Richard Bailey, the irons man, to search the second floor, while the Captain and can man entered the fire apartment. At this time, the Ladder 54 outside vent man radioed that heavy fire was auto-exposing to the second floor via the rear windows.

Members of Ladder 54 operate at a third alarm at Hunt’s Point. photo by Matthew P. Daly

Alone, FF Bailey raced up to the second floor and was met with extremely high heat and a heavy smoke condition. Forced to crawl because of the unbearable heat, he began his search with zero visibility and without the protection of a charged line. At this point, the Firefighter was directly above the heavy body of fire raging in the apartment below.

After proceeding about 25 feet into the apartment, FF Bailey heard the victim’s moans. Fully aware that the fire was auto-exposing to the second floor, he crawled deeper into the apartment toward the victim. At this point, he approached and passed an open stairway from the first floor that was communicating heat and smoke up toward him in a chimney-like manner.

With complete disregard for his safety and aware that the second floor could flash over at any second, FF Bailey continued his search and came upon the victim, Angelica Moraus. He radioed a 10-45 to Captain Yuneman and began to drag Ms. Moraus back through the apartment.

Alone with the semi-conscious victim, the heat intensifying and no water yet on the fire, the task was almost impossible for the Firefighter. Summoning all his strength and using his body to shield the victim, FF Bailey dragged the 250-lb.-plus woman past the heat from the inside stairway, back through the apartment, through the entrance door and down the front stairway. At this point, he was met by members of Ladder 47, who assisted with her removal. In critical condition, Ms. Moraus was transported by EMS to Jacobi Hospital.

Although completely exhausted, but refortified with oxygen from EMS personnel, FF Bailey re-entered the fire building to rejoin Captain Yuneman and the can man to continue vent-enter-search operations of the fire apartment.

FF Richard S. Bailey acted in the highest traditions of the New York City Fire Department and it is with great pride that he is presented with the Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia Medal.--GAA

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