Walter Scott Medal

Firefighter Thomas P. Maxwell, Ladder Company 44

May 28, 2004, 1032 hours, Box 22-2586, 1269 Sheridan Avenue, Bronx

Appointed to the FDNY on August 8, 1999. Previously assigned to Engine 44. Brother, FF Stephen Maxwell, is assigned to Ladder 10. Member of the Holy Name and Emerald Societies. Holds a BA degree in Economics from SUNY at Albany. Recipient of three unit citations; and a Class II rating for this incident. Resides in Northport, Long Island, with his wife, Jessica.

Ask any Firefighter what really gets the heart pumping and each will respond in kind: Report of fire with children trapped. Do what is necessary to get the job done. There’s no such thing as can’t. That’s what FF Thomas Maxwell of Ladder 44 knew as he responded to Box 2586 on the morning of May 28, 2004.

At 1032 hours, Ladder 44 was dispatched first-due to a fire at a six-story multiple dwelling at 1269 Sheridan Avenue. While en route, Ladder 44 was notified of a trapped child in the fire apartment (5H). On arrival, Captain John Sullivan, commander of Ladder 44, and the rest of the forcible entry team, FFs Maxwell (on the irons) and Adam Licardi (with the can), quickly proceeded to the top floor. While climbing the stairs, the members encountered Ms. Evan Reid. The distraught woman confirmed that her son, Andrew, was trapped in the fire apartment.

When they reached the top floor, the forcible entry team encountered fire, blinding smoke and intense heat in the hallway. After donning their masks and crawling to the apartment door, Captain Sullivan determined that it would be impossible to get past the raging fire. Thinking quickly and realizing that if conditions were so severe in the hallway, young Andrew was in grave danger inside the apartment.

Captain Sullivan ordered the forcible entry team to gain entry to the adjoining apartment (5G) and they attempted to breach the adjoining apartment wall. As the members reached the rear of apartment 5G, two occupants were found in the apartment. Captain Sullivan ordered FF Licardi to assist the occupants onto the fire escape. FF Licardi then returned to the hallway and followed Engine 92 into the apartment and searched as they moved in with the hose-line, just in case the breaching operation was unsuccessful.

Breaching a wall to gain access to the rear of a fire apartment is not an action to be taken lightly. Many things can go wrong and endanger those attempting a rescue such as this. First, to gain entry, Firefighters must knock out the plaster between the two apartments, an action that endangers the adjoining apartment because fire can easily extend to that apartment as well. Secondly, to gain entry to the apartment, the Firefighter has to squeeze between the studs in the wall. If conditions deteriorate, it is extremely difficult to retreat back through the wall quickly.

Captain Sullivan and FF Maxwell squeezed through the hole made by the Firefighter. They were immediately enveloped in intense heat from the roiling fire surging toward them across the ceiling. FF Maxwell crawled to the rear bedroom to search. He vented a window in the bedroom to try to improve the zero visibility hampering his search. With the smoke lifting slightly, he continued. Soon after, FF Maxwell found the unconscious child and immediately transmitted a 10-45 signal. He could not return to the hole because Engine 92 members now were advancing down the hall toward him, pushing heat and smoke in his direction.

FF Maxwell knew that every second three-year-old Andrew Reid was deprived of fresh air was crucial. The rescuer retreated to the rear bedroom, shielded the youngster with his own body and kept his head out the window in the fresh air. FF Maxwell removed his facepiece and held it over Andrew’s face to give him as much air as possible.

FF Maxwell waited anxiously at the window, hoping that Engine 92 would be successful in their attack on the fire. He was committed to his position. The fire escape was inaccessible because of the fire in that room. The 95-foot Tower Ladder could not reach them at the window and the hallway was untenable. Shortly afterward, Captain Sullivan joined FF Maxwell and they both waited until the fire was knocked down sufficiently to remove Andrew to the waiting ambulance in the street.

Andrew Reid survived his harrowing ordeal only because of the perseverance, determination and bravery of FF Thomas Maxwell. For these reasons, he is honored today and awarded the Walter Scott Medal.—CB