Albert S. Johnston Medal

Firefighter Vincent A. Tavella, Jr., Rescue Company 2

June 1, 2004, 2244 hours, Box 75-1093, 47 McKeever Place, Brooklyn

Appointed to the FDNY on October 23, 1994. Previously assigned to Ladder 11 and Squad 270. Father, Lieutenant Vincent Tavella, is retired from Engine 159, and cousin, FF Edward Cowan, is assigned to Squad 1. Recipient of a Class III rating for this incident. Resides on Staten Island with his wife, Carroll, and their two sons, Keith and Vincent.

It was just before 2300 hours, on Tuesday, June 1, 2004, inside apartment 22D of 47 McKeever Place, Brooklyn. Occupant, Jalloh Lagasim, was watching television with his wife and two small children. Suddenly, a strong odor of smoke permeated the apartment, prompting Mr. Lagasim to open his door and see heavy fire and smoke coming from the vicinity of the elevator on their floor. He quickly dialed 911 to report the fire.

At 2244 hours, Rescue Company 2 was special-called to Box 1093 for a fire on the 21st floor. While en route, additional information indicated numerous people trapped at this location. Arriving within minutes of the original Box, Rescue 2 encountered a 22-story, 150- by 150-foot, Class I, irregular-shaped multiple dwelling with a severe smoke condition emanating from the upper floors. As the members of Rescue 2 exited their rig, they could hear cries for help coming from the upper-floor windows.

FF Vincent Tavella, assigned the roof position, immediately was directed by his Lieutenant to proceed to the roof via the interior stairway to ventilate and attempt to calm the civilians who were showing signs of panic at their windows. In full firefighting gear and equipment, FF Tavella quickly and tirelessly began his ascent to the roof of this 22-story building.

As he approached the 20th floor, reports of a very heavy fire condition came over his handie-talkie. (Fire Marshals later discovered that someone had set fire to a couch and two mattresses in an elevator car on this floor, creating a blowtorch effect, which warped all the apartment doors on the 21st floor, as well as extending up the shaft onto the 22nd floor.)

FF Tavella made his way past the extreme smoke and intense heat created by this fire condition. Reaching the roof level, he encountered a civilian who somehow had managed to scale the building and now was hanging onto the roof’s edge, 22 stories above the ground. FF Tavella, along with members of Ladder Companies 113 and 132, pulled this individual to safety.

The civilian informed the Firefighters that there were six other occupants trapped inside apartment 22D, including a nine-month-old girl. Looking over the roof’s edge again, FF Tavella noticed another male adult attempting to “scale” the building, while holding the aforementioned infant in his arms. Realizing the situation inside the apartment was rapidly deteriorating, causing the occupant to begin drastic and unsafe actions, FF Tavella decided he must be lowered over the roof to the apartment window.

With the help of other FDNY members on the roof, FF Tavella tied himself on the rope and went over the edge to be lowered to the trapped and hysterical occupants. He was lowered the one floor, where he had to physically “push” the panicked occupants back into the apartment.

After getting into the apartment, he untied himself and sent the rope back up so his mask could be tied and lowered back to him. He then used his mask on each of his victims, while re-assuring them that help was on the way. FF Tavella stood by their side until the engine company was able to get water on the fire and other members of Rescue 2 could reach them.

FF Tavella not only demonstrated courage, coupled with quick and decisive action during a time of chaos, his commanding, yet calming presence, without question, saved lives on that day. For these reasons, FF Vincent Tavella is honored today and presented with the Albert S. Johnston Medal.—RMcC