Press Release Archives - 544-96 Honor Hero Firefighters

Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 22, 1996

Release #544-96

Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Dwight Williams (212) 788-2972

MAYOR GIULIANI AND FIRE COMMISSIONER VON ESSEN HONOR HERO FIREFIGHTERS FOR SAVING 67-YEAR-OLD MAN

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen today honored Lt. Kevin Shamburger, Firefighter Richard Portello, Firefighter Timothy Cuffe and Firefighter Thomas McKeon for their quick and heroic actions in saving Brooklyn resident Mr. Manuel Pagan from a fire early yesterday.

"The bravery of these four firefighters typifies what we see day after day throughout the City," Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani said. "Firefighters like those assembled here today make the extraordinary seem commonplace. Thanks to their rapid response, Mr. Pagan was saved from serious or even fatal injury. On behalf of the entire City, I thank them for their act of bravery."

"The actions of these firefighters at yesterday's fire saved the life of Mr. Pagan," Commissioner Von Essen said. "This is yet another example of the bravery and dedication that New York City's firefighters perform on a daily basis. It gives me great pleasure as Fire Commissioner to stand here and know that Mr. Pagan is recuperating today. This might not have been possible without the heroic actions of New York's Bravest."

Early yesterday morning, Fire Department units responded to fire at 393 Dumont Avenue in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. After arriving on the scene, area residents told firefighters that a man was hanging out of a 12th floor window in an attempt to escape smoke and flames. Lt. Shamburger ordered his ladder company to the rear of the building and had the ladder raised to the 12th floor. While his company attempted to rescue Mr. Pagan from the building's exterior, Lt. Shamburger entered the building and began to climb 12 flights to the fire floor.

Firefighter Portello raised Ladder Company 103's aerial ladder to the building's 11th floor. Firefighter Cuffe then climbed to the top of the aerial ladder and realized that he was unable to reach Mr. Pagan. Firefighters McKeon and Portello grabbed a 20 foot hook ladder from their truck, climbed to the top of the ladder and raised it to the 12th floor window.

Inside the structure, Lt. Shamburger, along with members of Ladder Company 120, reached Mr. Pagan's apartment. After crawling past the fire in the bedroom, Lt. Shamburger found his way into the kitchen and pulled Mr. Pagan from the window. After supplying the Mr. Pagan with oxygen, the Lieutenant escorted Mr. Pagan from the apartment building and to safety.

Mr. Pagan was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene by EMS and was transported to Brookdale Hospital.