Chief John J. McElligott Medal/Fitzpatrick and Frisby Award

Firefighter Andrew T. Gaughan, Rescue Company 4

December 15, 2004, 0246 hours, Box 22-7889, 37-52 89th Street, Queens

Appointed to the FDNY on October 23, 1994. Previously assigned to Engine 61 and Squad 61. Member of the Emerald Society. Recipient of a unit citation; and a Class III rating for this incident. Resides in Greenlawn, Long Island, with his wife, Irene, and their daughter, Sarah, and sons, Matthew and Patrick.

In residential areas of the City, it is not uncommon to receive multiple calls for the same incident. Frequently, people on opposite streets will see the smoke or flames and call in the alarm. When this happens, units may be dispatched to two separate locations for the same fire, causing the normal response sequence to be out of order. This occurred on December 15, 2004.

Rescue 4 was responding to a location at 35-43 88th Street, but was redirected to 37-52 89th Street, due to additional calls and reports of “people trapped” at that location. The occupants exiting the building told the first-arriving Firefighters that people were trapped on the upper floors. This information was relayed to Rescue 4 when they entered the lobby. They also were advised that the “B” stair was blocked by heavy fire and the only access to the upper floors was the “A” stair. Realizing the critical nature of gaining access to the floor above, the inside team of Rescue 4--Captain Daniel DiMartino and FFs Paul Mastronardi and Andrew Gaughan--proceeded up the “A” stair to the floor above the fire.

The members of Rescue 4 reached the second floor and experienced high heat and zero visibility. All they could see was the flames, similar to a blowtorch, venting through the top of the fire door that separated the two wings. Realizing the critical nature of gaining access to the floor above, FF Mastronardi continued to advance up the stairs to the third floor. Captain DiMartino and FF Gaughan followed.

As the team reached the third floor, conditions were not much better. The heat and smoke were so intense, they had to rely on hand and voice communication. Visibility was non-existent. FF Gaughan reached the landing of the third floor seconds behind FF Mastronardi, but the conditions were so severe, he could not see him, but could hear his voice. Crawling approximately 30 feet, FF Gaughan reached the fire door that separated the two wings. Within a few seconds after reaching this location, he heard the 10-45 given by FF Mastronardi and continued crawling on his belly until he reached FF Mastronardi, who was dragging the victim (Alex Sandovar) back toward the “A” stair.

FF Mastronardi told FF Gaughan that there was another victim down the hall and he was going back for him. This left FF Gaughan with the task of dragging a 165-pound male nearly 30 feet to the safety of the stair. This was not an easy job since the heat forced him to remain on his hands and knees. Making his way to the stair, FF Andrew Fowler of Rescue 4 and another member of Ladder 138 assisted him and took the victim down the stair. FF Gaughan turned and began his second trip down the hall to assist his partner with the other victim.

FF Mastronardi gave another radio transmission of “multiple 10-45s, floor above.” Still unable to see due to the smoke condition, FF Gaughan came upon 50-year-old Lucy Rodriquez, who was unconscious in the hall. For the second time, FF Gaughan began the arduous task of dragging a victim who weighed approximately 150 pounds, 30 feet to the safety of the “A” stair.

When FF Gaughan reached the “A” stair, there was no one to assist him and he was forced to drag this victim several steps down to the second floor. Here, a Firefighter from another unit relieved him of the victim. Again, while physically exhausted and pushing himself to his limits, FF Gaughan made his way back up to the third floor and down the hallway toward his partner.

Reaching FF Mastronardi, who had found a third victim, three-year-old Carolina Sandovar, FF Gaughan relieved FF Mastronardi of his charge and began the long crawl back to the “A” stair. After several feet, FF Gaughan gave the child to Captain DiMartino, who removed the girl to the street.

In assisting, then dragging, an unconscious and critically burned adult male to safety, FF Gaughan put forth a super-human effort. He then found an unconscious and critically burned woman and dragged her to safety. He went back a third time to assist in the removal of a third victim.

These three acts were at unusual personal risk since they were performed without the protection of a charged line and past an uncontrolled fire, which was venting up the open stair. His actions were outstanding and he is a credit to his unit, the Department and the fire service.

FF Andrew Gaughan is proudly awarded the Chief John J. McElligott Medal/Fitzpatrick and Frisby Award.—JTV