Pulaski Association Medal

Firefighter Rodney A. DeCuffa, Jr., Ladder Company 51

April 15, 2004, 0848 hours, Box 75-3665, 3615 Dereimer Avenue, Bronx

Appointed to the FDNY on October 25, 1992. Previously assigned to Ladder 9. Father, FF Rodney A. DeCuffa, Senior, is retired from Battalion 20, and brother, James T. DeCuffa, is assigned to Engine 62. Recipient of the WTC Rescuer Ribbon/Medal; and a Class III rating for this incident. Resides in Hawthorne, New York, with his wife, Patty, and their children, Kyle and Lydia.

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. Just 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, heavy fire was observed 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 of FFs Rodney DeCuffa and Mark Schweighardt donned their SCBAs and entered through the front door, which had been left open.

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 his portable extinguisher, was ordered to stay behind to try to hold the fire back. There was no charged line on the fire yet.

Lieutenant McGee and FF DeCuffa hugged the left wall, crawled under the fire blasting out the doorway and went deeper into the apartment. FF DeCuffa was able to push a large bookcase in front of the fire doorway, thus slowing the fire spread and buying a bit more search time for them.

Searching in zero visibility and unbearable heat, they found the bedroom where the victims were believed to be trapped. Lieutenant McGee found an unconscious and burned 45-year-old female, Susan Jackson. Together, Lieutenant and Firefighter dragged her down the hallway, past heavy fire and to the front door.

Now, it was reported that in addition to a well-involved first floor, heavy fire was involving the basement and extending to exposure #4. Knowing this and with complete disregard for his own safety, FF DeCuffa re-entered the apartment, crawled past the fire again and initiated a search for the second victim, all without the protection of a charged line.

Sweeping the bedroom floor, he found 13-year-old Marcus Jackson. He picked up the child and gave a 10-45 signal. At this time, Engine 38 had the first line in place and was initiating an aggressive attack. FF DeCuffa, using his own body to shield the boy, made his way past the engine crew and to the front door. On the way down the stairs, the Firefighter fell, injuring his back and neck, but again protected the victim, whom he handed over to another member.

FF DeCuffa entered the house for a third time to search for another child still missing. As he again reached the bedroom, the child was removed via the bedroom window by FF Kevin Wacha of Ladder 51.

FF DeCuffa performed two rescues and attempted a third by repeatedly putting himself in harm’s way without the protection of a charged line. Without his courageous efforts, Susan and Marcus Jackson might not be alive today. It is with great pride that the FDNY today presents FF Rodney DeCuffa with the Pulaski Association Medal.—GAA