FDNY Firefighters Rescue Three from Dramatic Early Morning Fire

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In a series of dramatic early morning rescues Aug. 30 in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, FDNY firefighters pulled several residents from the top floors of a burning brownstone, with one firefighter walking through flames and suffering second-degree burns to help someone trapped inside.

"We walked through a room that was engulfed in fire," said FDNY Firefighter Peter Demontreux of Ladder 132, recalling how he helped a civilian to safety. "We were on fire."

The fire broke out shortly before 4:30 a.m. at 175 Putnam Ave. and quickly escalated to a second-alarm.

Firefighter Demontreux, who was assigned to the Outside Vent position, immediately climbed up the aerial ladder upon arrival to rescue a man hanging from the third-floor front window, who told him that there was another person still inside.

He donned his mask and went inside to begin his search, but thick black smoke made it impossible to see.  He returned to the window, where Firefighter Richard Myers of Rescue 2 offered to begin breaking out windows on the third floor to increase visibility.

Demontreux went back in.

"I heard a man at the back and searched along the wall, following it to the rear, where I found the second occupant hanging out the back window trying to breathe," Firefighter Demontreux said.

Helping the man along toward the front of the building, they passed through a room now fully involved, but knew it was their only means left of escape.

"I just wanted to get out of there as fast as possible," Firefighter Demontreux said.

Outside of the building, with Firefighter Demontreux gone for several minutes as flames intensified inside, Firefighter Myers feared the worst.  "I was about to give an urgent, a mayday," he said. "All of a sudden there's Pete, running out and he and the civilian are on fire."

Firefighters with a charged hoseline down below quickly turned the water on Firefighter Demontreux and the victim, putting out the flames on their clothes and bodies.

"I thought Pete was dead," Firefighter Myers said. "Incredible, just incredible job that he did."

Members of Rescue 2 also performed heroically, using a life-saving rope to rescue a man from the third floor of the building.  Firefighter Charlie Dodenhoff used the rope to pull a man out of a third floor window.

In all, four firefighters were injured in the fire, with Firefighter Demontreux suffering burns on his face and back.  He was treated and released from an area hospital Monday.  Three civilians also suffered critical injuries and were taken to area hospitals.

Fire marshals are still investigating the cause of the fire, but it is considered suspicious.

Photo Courtesy of FDNY:  FF Richard Myers of Rescue 2, Deputy Chief Robert Strong of Division 11, FF Peter Demontreux of Ladder 132 and FF Charles Dodenhoff of Rescue 2.

Republished with the permission of the FDNY.  View original article here.


Author:Emily Rahimi - Public Information Officer - FDNY