Holiday heroics
FIREFIGHTERS braved heavy smoke to rescue a family from a burning sixth-floor apartment in an East Harlem public housing development early Friday, authorities said.
The blaze, which started from a space heater plugged into a power strip, trapped a woman, a man, a teenager, four children and a dog in the flat in the Johnson Houses, on E. 112th St. near Third Ave. about 3:20 a.m.
“We had a wonderful early Christmas gift where we saved seven members of a family,” said Lt. Chief Anthony Saccavino of Engine 52/Ladder 43.
Patricia Rivera, who lives on the fifth floor, said she had insomnia and was playing video games when she smelled smoke.
“I started hearing a lot of ruckus going on upstairs and I heard a male screaming,” she recalled. “That’s when I got back up, opened the window again, that’s when I saw all the smoke coming out.”
Rivera said the couple above her work nights, and their two daughters were being watched by their aunt and her boyfriend. In all, there were five children, ranging in age from 3 to 16 years old, in the apartment when the fire started. Everyone was asleep, Rivera was told, but the eldest girl woke up from the heat of the fire on her right foot.
“She was yelling ... ‘I’m burning!’ She woke up her little sister and started yelling,” she said. “The oldest son of the aunt, he was coughing up black smoke with blood.”
Rivera said she was able to carry one of the little girls to an ambulance with the aunt and another child.
Firefighters arrived about four minutes after the initial 911 call.
“As we were walking up the stairs, we already knew we had people trapped. Several members on the outside were letting us know there were people outside the window screaming,” Lt. Ryan MacDougall said.
Probationary Firefighter Amir Francis forced the victims’ apartment door open amid heavy smoke. The couch and a sofa in the living room were in flames.
Two-year Firefighter Osmar Martinez, searched the living room, the kitchen and a bedroom.
“I heard a lot of coughing,” Martinez said. “As the coughing got closer ... maybe a couple inches away, I got to see a little bit, it was like kids, a woman.”
He picked up the first child and told the woman to follow him closely.
“I passed off the child (to MacDougall), turned back around and grabbed another child,” he said. “I reassured the lady just to stay close by.”
After getting the woman and four children into the hands of other firefighters, Martinez went back inside to another bedroom where he found the boy and his dog.
“The teenager did not want to leave his dog. I reassured him that we’ll get him out,” Martinez said.
“It was kind of difficult to get the dog, but I got him, (then) went to the front again.”
Francis found a man in the last bedroom.
“He was on the floor gasping for air,” Francis said. “At that time, I got over the radio and said that we have another victim, last bedroom to the left, I’m going to need help bringing him out.”
The smoke was so heavy the firefighters could barely see.
“You’re limited to your senses,” Francis said. “All you can do is feel on the walls and listen to what’s going on.”
“There’s a hundred thoughts going through your mind as you’re going up there, trying to figure out which way to search, where the fire could be, what’s causing the fire.”
The man found in the rear bedroom was in critical condition with smoke inhalation. Six other people and two firefighters suffered lesser smoke inhalation.
“Just to be able to do (this) close to the holidays at least let someone have their Christmas and New Year’s, it’s just a wonderful feeling. I hope they get to enjoy their holidays with each other,” Francis said.