Firefighter Al Ronaldson
Follows In His Hero Dad's Footsteps
FDNY
Insider 7/16/09
|
Firefighter Al Ronaldson (L59)
with
his mom Kim |
Firefighters
from Ladder 59 and Ladder 54 are being
hailed as heroes after they rescued two men
from a Bronx apartment fire on July 16.
Members were called to the scene of a fire
on W. 183rd Street at 12:02 a.m.
As they approached, firefighters said
neighbors pointed to the six-story building,
where smoke was pouring out the windows of a
corner apartment on the second floor.
Ladder 59 was the first company to arrive
and immediately made their way to the fire
apartment.
They forced open the door and Lt. Mike
Fagan, and Firefighters Al Ronaldson and
Paul Denver began their search. They said
apartment was hot and extremely smoky,
limiting visibility.
(Firefighter Al Ronaldson is the son of
Firefighter Alfred E. Ronaldson (R3) who
made the supreme sacrifice on March 5. 1991)
Firefighter Ronaldson said he turned left
into the living room and quickly located the
victim face down under a table. As he lifted
the man, he began to moan, so the
firefighter said, “I knew I had to get him
out in a hurry.”
Firefighter Denver helped him remove the
victim, who was in his 40s, to the hallway.
There, the victim surprised his rescuers
when he became alert and complained he could
not breathe. Firefighters carried him to the
lobby and brought him an oxygen mask ease
his breathing as EMS members arrived.
The man suffered burns to his face, arms and
back.
“It felt great it was almost surreal at
first, but then your training takes over,”
said Firefighter Ronaldson. “I was just in
the right place at the right time.”
Ladder
54 operating at a 2006 fire
As this
rescue took place, firefighters from Ladder
54 arrived and saw a man leaning half way
out a window on the second floor, with smoke
billowing over his head.
Lt. Barry Leguernic said fire was quickly
approaching and the man was ready to jump,
but firefighters and neighbors convinced him
to wait as Firefighters Greg Brannon and
Steve Caglione set up a portable ladder.
Firefighter Brannon quickly climbed to the
window and pulled the man to safety.
He was passed to EMS members who treated the
62-year-old man for smoke inhalation.
“Everyone did a great job,” said Lt.
Leguernic.
The victims were transported to area
hospitals. The fire was declared under
control at 12:56 a.m. Fire marshals are
investigating the cause.
