Post by scannerman5555 on Jan 23, 2005 16:17:09 GMT -5
Two firefighters killed, four critically injured
Fatal Bronx blaze
Jan 23, 2005
NYNewsday.com
January 23, 2005, 12:17 PM EST
NEW YORK -- A fierce three-alarm blaze claimed the lives of two firefighters, and critically injured four others in the Tremont section of the Bronx Sunday morning, fire department officials said.
Fire Lieutenant Curtis Meyran, 46, and Firefighter John Bellew, 37, were both treated at the scene of the fire at 236 East 178th St. and pronounced dead shortly after being taken to St. Barnabas Hospital.
Four other firefighters remained in critical condition. All six jumped from a rear fourth floor window, falling about 50 feet, after becoming trapped by flames.
The fire department is still investigating the cause of the fire, but said a faulty extension cord plugged into a heater on the third floor may have sparked the blaze.
Fire department officials say they are also investigating why there was a temporary loss of water as firefighters battled the blaze, saying a frozen hydrant could have been the cause.
The firefighters had been searching the fourth floor, the floor above the blaze, after receiving reports some tenants may have been trapped, fire officials said.
"The six firefighters were searching for occupants who were reportedly on the fourth floor of the building when the firefighters themselves became trapped," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in an afternoon press conference.
"When the fire from the third floor broke through to the fourth they were faced with the horrifying choice of either jumping out the fourth floor widow or being burned to death. They jumped knowing they would be critically injured," the mayor said.
The four injured firefighters have been identified as Joseph P. DiBernardo and Jeffrey G. Cool, both of Rescue 3 and Eugene Stowlowski and Brendan K, Cawley with Ladder 27.
DiBernardo is being treated at Jacobi Medical Center. The other three were taken to St. Barnabas Hospital.
Cawley's brother, also a firefighter, was killed in the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
No tenants were found on the fourth floor and there were no reported injuries from the fire among the building's residents, officials said.
Meyran of Batallion 26 was a 15-year veteran of the fire department. He was twice cited for bravery and leaves behind a wife and three children.
Bellew of Ladder Company 27 served the fire department for 10 years. He is survived by his wife and four children.
N.Y.Newsday online edtion
Fatal Bronx blaze
Jan 23, 2005
NYNewsday.com
January 23, 2005, 12:17 PM EST
NEW YORK -- A fierce three-alarm blaze claimed the lives of two firefighters, and critically injured four others in the Tremont section of the Bronx Sunday morning, fire department officials said.
Fire Lieutenant Curtis Meyran, 46, and Firefighter John Bellew, 37, were both treated at the scene of the fire at 236 East 178th St. and pronounced dead shortly after being taken to St. Barnabas Hospital.
Four other firefighters remained in critical condition. All six jumped from a rear fourth floor window, falling about 50 feet, after becoming trapped by flames.
The fire department is still investigating the cause of the fire, but said a faulty extension cord plugged into a heater on the third floor may have sparked the blaze.
Fire department officials say they are also investigating why there was a temporary loss of water as firefighters battled the blaze, saying a frozen hydrant could have been the cause.
The firefighters had been searching the fourth floor, the floor above the blaze, after receiving reports some tenants may have been trapped, fire officials said.
"The six firefighters were searching for occupants who were reportedly on the fourth floor of the building when the firefighters themselves became trapped," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in an afternoon press conference.
"When the fire from the third floor broke through to the fourth they were faced with the horrifying choice of either jumping out the fourth floor widow or being burned to death. They jumped knowing they would be critically injured," the mayor said.
The four injured firefighters have been identified as Joseph P. DiBernardo and Jeffrey G. Cool, both of Rescue 3 and Eugene Stowlowski and Brendan K, Cawley with Ladder 27.
DiBernardo is being treated at Jacobi Medical Center. The other three were taken to St. Barnabas Hospital.
Cawley's brother, also a firefighter, was killed in the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
No tenants were found on the fourth floor and there were no reported injuries from the fire among the building's residents, officials said.
Meyran of Batallion 26 was a 15-year veteran of the fire department. He was twice cited for bravery and leaves behind a wife and three children.
Bellew of Ladder Company 27 served the fire department for 10 years. He is survived by his wife and four children.
N.Y.Newsday online edtion