FIRE COMMISSIONER NICHOLAS SCOPPETTA
TO POSTHUMOUSLY PROMOTE FIREFIGHTER JOHN G. BELLEW
TO THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta today announced that he would posthumously promote Firefighter John G. Bellew to the rank of Fire Lieutenant. Firefighter Bellew of Ladder Company 27 in the Bronx was fatally injured battling a three-alarm fire in a four-story apartment building at 236 East 178th Street last Sunday.

Bellew, a 10-year veteran of the FDNY, passed the civil service test for Fire Lieutenant in May 2002. He was on the current civil service list for promotion, and with only 24 firefighters ahead of him would have been promoted in less then two months. The promotion will increase his final salary, thus enabling his young family to receive increased benefits.

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

http://www.nyc.gov/fdny