MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG AND FIRE COMMISSIONER NICHOLAS SCOPPETTA ANNOUNCE THE DEATHS OF FIRE LIEUTENANT CURTIS W. MEYRAN AND FIREFIGHTER JOHN G. BELLEW

LT Curtis W. Meyran	FF John G. Bellew

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta today sadly announced the deaths of Fire Lieutenant Curtis W. Meyran of Battalion 26 and Firefighter John G. Bellew of Ladder Company 27 in the Bronx. Meyran, age 46, a 15-year veteran of FDNY and Bellew, age 37, a 10-year veteran, were both fatally injured battling a 3rd-alarm fire in a four-story apartment building at 236 East 178th Street this morning. Lieutenant Meyran and Firefighter Bellew were treated at the scene and transported to St. Barnabas Hospital where they both succumbed to their injuries.

Four other firefighters from Ladder 27 and Rescue Company 3 were also critically injured at the fire. The six firefighters were searching the rear of the fourth floor for reported trapped occupants. Firefighters Joseph P. DiBernardo and Jeffrey G. Cool of Rescue 3 and Firefighters Eugene Stolowski and Brendan K. Cawley of Ladder 27 jumped from a fourth floor rear window along with Lieutenant Meyran and Firefighter Bellew after they themselves became trapped above the fire. Firefighter DiBernado was transported to Jacobi Hospital. The other three firefighters were transported to St. Barnabas Hospital.

The fire was reported at 7:59 a.m. and was brought under control at 10:13 a.m. Thirty-five units and 150 firefighters were called to scene.

Lieutenant Curtis W. Meyran was appointed to the Fire Department on November 12, 1989 and was currently assigned to Battalion 26 in the Bronx. During his career he was twice cited for bravery in 1991 while working at Ladder 161 and in 1997 while assigned to Ladder 123. Both units are in Brooklyn. A resident of Malverne, Long Island, Lieutenant Meyran is survived by his wife, Jeanette, and their three children; Dennis and daughters Danine and Angela.

Firefighter John G. Bellew was appointed to the department on July 17, 1994. During his career he has worked at Ladder 10 and Engine Company 23. He is a resident of Pearl River, N.Y. and is survived by his wife Eileen and their four children: daughters Brielle and Katreana, and sons Jack and Kieran.

Lieutenant Meyran and Firefighter Bellew are the 1,129th and 1,130th New York City Firefighters to make the Supreme Sacrifice in the Department's 142-year history.

Contact: Francis X. Gribbon / David Billig (FDNY) (718) 999-2056

http://www.nyc.gov/fdny