Firefighter from Ladder Company 28 receives top fire operations medal at 2025 FDNY Medal Day for lifesaving rope rescues in Manhattan

June 10, 2025

Firefighter Michael Kotzo, of Ladder Company 28, was honored with the Chief of Department Peter J. Ganci Jr. Medal and NYS Honorary Fire Chiefs Association Medal—the top fire operations medal—at the FDNY's 156th Medal Day Ceremony for performing two lifesaving rope rescues during a challenging top-floor fire in February 2024 in Manhattan.

At 2:14 p.m. on Feb. 23, 2024, members of Ladder 28 responded to a reported fire on the top floor of a six-story building at Box 1647 in Harlem. Upon arrival, members encountered heavy smoke and reports of people trapped at the top-floor windows.

With fire blowing out of a third-floor apartment and blocking stairwell access, Kotzo quickly set the aerial ladder and climbed to the roof, preparing for a high-risk rescue. Working with Firefighter Jason Lopez, Kotzo initiated the first rope rescue, successfully lowering Lopez and a civilian to the ground. Moments later, Kotzo observed another civilian hanging out of an adjacent window. With no other rope yet on the roof, the firefighter determined the only chance of survival was to use the rope a second time. Kotzo executed the second rope rescue himself—this time, lowering from the roof to rescue the civilian while supporting the full weight of the victim as they descended to safety.

"In an incredibly dangerous and highly technical operation, (Firefighter) Kotzo was deliberate and courageous, displaying teamwork and leadership—and in doing so, had a tremendously successful outcome," FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker said.

Kotzo is one of six members who received a medal for their role in the fire.

"It's the greatest honor ever," Kotzo said at the 2025 Medal Day Ceremony. "All the training paid off for this incident that I was involved with. I'm just so grateful. It's a great feeling. It really is."

Kotzo was appointed to the FDNY on Sept. 14, 2003. He was previously assigned to Engine Company 69 and is the recipient of three unit citations (2005, 2015 and 2023), a pre-hospital save (2011) and a Service Rating B (2017).

Firefighter Michael Kotzo, of Ladder Company 28, was honored with the Chief of Department Peter J. Ganci Jr. Medal and NYS Honorary Fire Chiefs Association Medal at the FDNY's 156th Medal Day Ceremony.