American Legion Post 930/ Mark M. Wohlfeld Memorial Medal

Firefighter Jonathan Hoffman, Ladder Company 144

November 5, 2004, 1527 hours, Box 22-4628, 162-30 Powells Cove Boulevard, Queens

Appointed to the FDNY on May 5, 2002. Holds a BA degree from SUNY at Albany. Recipient of a Class III rating for this incident. Resides in Astoria, Queens.

In the late afternoon hours of the day tour on November 5, 2004, Queens Box 4628 was transmitted by phone for a fire on the roof of 162-30 Powells Cove Boulevard in the Whitestone section of Queens. Engine Co. 295 and Ladder Co. 144, the “Whitestone Eagles,” were assigned to respond first-due to the reported fire on top of the nine-story, fireproof residential building. The building stood 75 feet high and did not have a standpipe.

Arriving at the Box, FDNY members found a heavy smoke and fire condition on the roof, prompting Ladder 144 to transmit a second alarm. There were civilians pointing to the roof, indicating a person sitting on the edge of the parapet while holding on to a fence on the roof. The civilian trapped on the roof was Jan Kolesar, a roofer, who was working on the roof when the fire started.

FF Jonathan Hoffman, Ladder 144’s roof Firefighter, wasted no time and went straight to the burning roof to assist the trapped roofer. Once at the roof level, FF Hoffman informed his Officer that he was going onto the roof, even though a charged hose-line was not yet in position.

There was a heavy fire condition on the roof and almost zero visibility due to the very dark and thick smoke from the burning tar and rubber. FF Hoffman made his way past the roaring fire to the roofer, who was on the edge of the parapet. With the fire now at his back, FF Hoffman convinced Mr. Kolesar to hang on as Ladder 144’s tower ladder bucket was placed right below him. The roofer could wait no longer and jumped six feet into the bucket. After he jumped, there were two people in the bucket--the roofer and Ladder 144’s outside vent Firefighter.

The fire on the roof now blocked FF Hoffman’s path to a safe area. Hot tar was splattering the back of his bunker gear as he was trying to turn from the intense heat. The Firefighter’s situation was made more dangerous because there were three propane cylinders on the roof, two of which already had blevied, and a tar kettle.

As the strong winds (estimated at 40 to 50 mph) appeared to change direction, FF Hoffman heard Ladder 144’s inside team calling for him. Simultaneously, he also saw Engine 295 knocking down the fire, which allowed FF Hoffman a clear path to a safe area on the roof.

For his bravery in assisting a trapped civilian to safety from the parapet of a fully involved and smoky roof, FF Jonathan Hoffman is officially recognized by the FDNY today. He is awarded the American Legion Post 930/Mark M. Wohlfeld Memorial Medal.—NG