Arthur J. Laufer Memorial Medal

Firefighter Ryan R. Nordman, Ladder Company 45

January 27, 2004, 0240 hours, Box 75-1758, 116 Pinehurst Avenue, Manhattan

Appointed to the FDNY on July 15, 2001. Served in the U.S. Navy from 1992 to 1996. Recipient of a Service Rating A for this incident. Resides in Floral Park, Long Island.

On a snowy night in January 2004, the story of a mother and her unborn baby would have ended tragically in a public hallway of a Washington Heights apartment building were it not for the aggressive actions of FF Ryan R. Nordman of Ladder Company 45. Engine Co. 93 and Ladder Co. 45, known as the “Big House,” responded to a reported fire at 116 Pinehurst Avenue (building J) at 0240 hours on January 27.

Fires in the early-morning hours are particularly dangerous. While most people sleep, fire and deadly smoke can enter rooms and apartments with deadly results. Even if occupants wake up, many become disoriented and collapse in the acrid smoke while trying to escape, which is exactly what happened to Michelle Shea, a woman who was six-months pregnant.

Ladder 45 arrived first, well ahead of Engine 93, whose members were delayed by snow and parked cars. It was obvious that 45 Truck would have to begin this operation without the aid of a hose-line. When FF Nordman, the outside vent Firefighter (OVM), reached the side of the building, fire was blowing out of two windows on the first floor, endangering a number of tenants exiting the building from a fire escape.

FF Nordman decided to place a 20-foot straight ladder next to the second-floor fire escape to give the tenants another way down to street level, but his plans changed suddenly. As he returned with the ladder, he saw two panicked women at a second-floor window. One woman already was climbing out of the casement window, preparing to jump.

FF Nordman knew instantly that this woman was now his top priority. In a calm, firm voice, the Firefighter gave the women instructions to stay in the apartment and then he placed the ladder to their window. He climbed to the top of the ladder, looked in and realized that the heavy smoke was only collecting at the ceiling level.

He instructed the two women to go back in the apartment and he followed. FF Nordman was about to close the front door to lessen the smoke in the apartment, when he heard screams from the public hallway. FF Nordman’s priorities changed once again. He quickly moved the two women in the apartment to a fire escape and then headed in the direction of the screams.

When FF Nordman made it back to the apartment door, he called down the hallway, but received no reply. He then began his search down the pitch-black corridor. After crawling for about 18 feet, he came to a corner, turned and found an unenclosed stairwell, the conduit of the dense smoke and high heat originating from the first floor.

He continued his search past the stairs another 22 feet to a dead end, where he found Mrs. Shea unconscious. After transmitting his discovery over the radio, FF Nordman started to drag the victim to a clear apartment, but as he passed the stairwell, he was met by FF Eric A. Torres, Ladder 34, and Captain Michael Grogan, Division 6, detailed to Ladder 34, who accepted Mrs. Shea from FF Nordman and brought her to safety. Once again, FF Nordman displayed his ability to adjust to changing conditions by continuing his search on the upper floors in response to reports of more trapped victims.

FF Nordman’s aggressive actions in the hallway saved not one, but two lives. If Mrs. Shea was not removed when FF Nordman found her, both she and her unborn child certainly would have perished, according to the attending emergency room doctor.

Four-year veteran Ryan Nordman clearly has shown his dedication to the Department in his short time as a Firefighter. For performing heroically at Box 1758, without the protection of a charged hose-line, FF Ryan R. Nordman is awarded the Arthur J. Laufer Memorial Medal.—SN