M.J. Delehanty Medal

Firefighter Richard P. Donovan, Ladder Company 51

November 10, 2004, 0320 hours, Box 75-3663, 1178 East 221st Street, Bronx

Appointed to the FDNY on April 14, 1991. Brother, FF Kevin Donovan, is assigned to Ladder 19; brother-in-law, FF Thomas Warkenthier, is assigned to Ladder 32; and brother-in-law, Battalion Chief Michael Keenan, is assigned to Battalion 49. Holds Associates degrees in Business and Labor Studies from St. John’s University and Empire State College, respectively. Recipient of two unit citations; and two Class III ratings, one for this incident. Resides in Dobbs Ferry, New York, with his wife, Ivanka, and their sons, Richard and Jason.

It was 0320 hours on the cold winter night of November 10, 2004, when the tone alarm and teleprinter in the Eastchester Road, Bronx, quarters of Engine 38 and Ladder 51 came to life. Frantic civilians were reporting a dwelling fire. As the crews cleared the house, all realized that a reported dwelling fire at this hour of the morning well could mean people sleeping and trapped by the fire.

The fire building was a three-story, balloon-frame multiple dwelling of vintage age with a front stoop that entered directly to the second floor.

As first-due Ladder 51, under the command of Captain Michael Woods, rolled to a stop, heavy fire was blowing out three windows on the second floor. Excited neighbors informed the Captain that an elderly blind woman lived on the third floor and possibly was trapped.

Ladder 51 members entered the front door and found extremely heavy fire conditions on the second floor, with the stairs to the third floor fully involved. Captain Woods ordered his outside vent Firefighter, FF Richard Donovan, to the third floor via the exterior to search for the reported trapped woman. At this time, there was no water on the fire.

Using the fire escape, FF Donovan found a narrow, third-floor window that he cleared. Squeezing through, he immediately encountered zero visibility and extremely high heat conditions. As he started his search, he noticed that the inferno on the floor below had started to burn through the apartment door.

With rapidly deteriorating conditions, FF Donovan passed under the fire--which now was blowing through the apartment door--and quickly searched the living room and den. Continuing his search, with fire rolling across the ceiling and still without the protection of a charged line, he found 75-year-old Marion Gaines, unconscious on the kitchen floor.

The Firefighter radioed a 10-45 signal and dragged Mrs. Gaines to the window and onto the fire escape, shielding her from the flames with his body. Due to the heavy heat and smoke venting from below, FF Donovan could not be seen from street level. Realizing it might take some time to get the victim down, he removed his mask facepiece and placed it on her.

After a few minutes, conditions began to improve and the victim started to regain consciousness. FF Donovan now could see a portable ladder at the second-floor balcony and advised Mrs. Gaines that they would have to try to climb down. In a panic, she screamed she was blind and could not move.

With no help available, FF Donovan picked up Mrs. Gaines and, with great difficulty, carried her to the floor below. Totally exhausted, the Firefighter passed her to a member of Ladder 32, who removed her to an ambulance.

FF Donovan, upholding the highest traditions of the FDNY, operated alone on the floor above the fire in a balloon-frame building with fire rapidly spreading up the interior stairs, through the walls and into the cockloft. For performing this courageous rescue under extremely punishing conditions and without the protection of a hose-line, FF Richard Donovan is honored today and presented with the M.J. Delehanty Medal.—GAA