Firefighters Rescue Four from Fire in Queens

Deputy Chief James DiDomenico tells reporters about the rescue of four civilians from an early morning fire in Queens along with Firefighters Jim Stewart (front left), Anthony Sodano (front right) and Stephen King (second row, far right).

It was like a scene from a fast-moving action movie as firefighters from Ladder 126 and Ladder 127 rescued four people from a fire in Jamaica, Queens, on April 20.

“It was a joint effort and it feels good to know these people lived,” said Firefighter Jim Stewart from Ladder 126, an 11-year veteran. “Firefighters dream about a rescue like this their whole career.”

At 1:11 a.m. a call was received for a fire on 144th Street, with reports of multiple people trapped.

Firefighter Stewart was the chauffeur of Ladder 126, and had just set up the aerial ladder when he received a call from Firefighter Stephen King (also from Ladder 126), asking for assistance to rescue a man trapped on the third floor of the three-story home.

Yet since the fire building had a bay window on the second floor and was spaced only three or four feet from the neighboring house, the firefighters had trouble setting up the 24-foot portable ladder. So the firefighters said they improvised, with Firefighter King using all his weight to keep the ladder steady at a nearly 90-degree angle as Firefighter Stewart climbed to the top.

He said he smashed the window, but by the time he was ready to help the man onto the ladder, the victim had collapsed inside. That’s when Firefighter Stewart said his adrenaline kicked in.

“I reached across and was able to get to window sill and pull myself half way inside,” he said. “I felt his belt and just pulled him out. It was aerobatic.”

He positioned the semi-conscious man between him and the ladder, and slowly and carefully walked him down.

In the meantime, Firefighter Anthony Sodano from Ladder 126 was searching the second floor with Firefighter Michael McNally of Ladder 127. Firefighter Sodano said he heard Firefighter King’s initial call for someone trapped in the attic, and made his way up the steps to search for other victims.

“There was zero visibility, but I could hear someone breathing, gurgling,” he said. He located the unconscious man and called for help to remove him. With assistance from Firefighter McNally, the pair carried him to the window above the porch on the second floor and administered air as they waited for the aerial ladder.

They then heard a radio transmission saying there were more people trapped on the third floor, so Firefighter Sodano returned to the attic and located two other unconscious victims.

Firefighter Dan Hickey from Ladder 126 helped him remove the first victim, and Lt. David Bengyak and Firefighter Michael Cullen from Ladder 127 removed the second.

“Although the fire was in the basement, [the house] had an open stairway, so it was like a deathtrap [in the attic],” said Firefighter Sodano, an 8-year veteran of the FDNY.

EMS members treated all four victims and transported them to area hospitals. The fire was placed under control at 1:38 a.m.

“It’s the best feeling, knowing you saved a life,” Firefighter Sodano said. “When you’re there, it’s crazy, almost surreal, but when you see the victims breathe, you breathe a sigh of relief.”