Commissioner Edward Thompson Medal

Lieutenant William T. McGee, Ladder Company 51

April 15, 2004, 0848 hours, Box 22-3665, 3615 Dereimer Avenue, Bronx

Appointed to the FDNY on November 12, 1989. Previously assigned to Engine 96 and Ladder 54. Member of the Emerald and Holy Name Societies and City Island Firefighter Association. Recipient of the Albert A. Cinnelli Medal; Battalion Chief Frank T. Tuttlemondo Medal; a Service Rating B; and a Class III rating for this incident. Additionally, he has been honored by Firehouse Magazine. He resides in the Bronx with his wife, Annie.

As soon as Ladder 51, under the command of Lieutenant William McGee, rolled out of quarters and swung north on Boston Road in the Bronx, the members knew they had a job. Moments earlier, at 0848 hours, the teleprinter in the quarters of 51 Truck and Engine 38 had ordered them to a dwelling fire at 3615 Dereimer Avenue, Box 3665, a few blocks away.

Now they could see an angry cloud of billowing black smoke while the dispatcher was reporting multiple calls with people trapped. The Officer of Engine 38, a few blocks ahead, gave a 10-75 signal for a two-story, non-fireproof frame dwelling.

Entering the fire block, Ladder 51 found the street jammed with numerous police cars and a telephone company truck. Lieutenant McGee ordered his inside team to proceed on foot while the outside team helped position the rig. Reaching the front of the house, members observed heavy fire blowing out every window on the exposure #4 side. Civilians were pointing to a window where trapped people had been seen earlier, but since had disappeared.

Lieutenant McGee and his inside team, FFs Rodney DeCuffa and Mark Schweighardt, donned their SCBAs and entered through the front door, which had been left open by neighbors who had unsuccessfully attempted to enter.

In zero visibility and extremely punishing heat conditions, the team crawled about 10 feet down a hallway where they found an open doorway with fire rolling out the top. FF Schweighardt, using the can, was ordered to stay behind to try to hold the fire back. There was no charged line on the fire yet.

As FF DeCuffa moved a large bookcase in front of the doorway to slow the fire spread, Lieutenant McGee continued his search and reached the end of the hallway. Going to the left, he found two doorways, which proved to be closets. Hearing FF DeCuffa say he found a room, the Lieutenant searched to the left, while the Firefighter went to the right.

Sweeping to the left in zero visibility and unbearable heat, Lieutenant McGee found a wheelchair on its side. As he moved past it, he found 48-year-old Susan Jackson, a multiple sclerosis victim, unconscious on the floor next to the bed. He gave a 10-45 signal and with the help of FF DeCuffa, dragged the victim out. As he passed the fire room, the Lieutenant placed his body between the victim and the heavy fire to shield her from any more injury. Victim and rescuers reached the front door and Lieutenant McGee passed Mrs. Jackson to a member of Engine 63.

Hearing Battalion Chief Daniel Willis transmit a second alarm, but knowing that two children still were unaccounted for, Lieutenant McGee re-entered the apartment--again without the protection of a charged line--to resume his search. Passing the fire again, he reached the bedroom where FF DeCuffa had just found 13-year-old Marcus Jackson. Making sure another 10-45 was transmitted, he assisted FF DeCuffa in removing the victim.

At this point, Lieutenant McGee heard two radio reports: one, a 10-45 signal for a child removed via a bedroom window, and the other, for heavy fire in the basement. Ensuring that Engine 38 members knew they had fire directly below them, the Lieutenant made his way to the fire doorway and informed Lieutenant Mark Doran of Engine 38.

Lieutenant Doran then advised Lieutenant McGee of a possible third child who still might be in the bedroom. Lieutenant McGee made a quick search, but found no one. Earlier, the third child had jumped from a rear window and suffered minor injuries.

Lieutenant McGee performed this rescue by putting himself in harm’s way without the protection of a charged line. For his actions, which were in the highest traditions of the FDNY, Lieutenant William McGee is presented with the Commissioner Edward Thompson Medal.—GAA