Howard Roark
Retired Moderator
By Eyewitness News' Marcus Solis
(New York -WABC, January 23, 2005 ) — A devastating day for the New York City fire department. Three firefighters killed, battling two different fires--one in the Bronx, and one in Brooklyn.
Two firefighters are dead, and three firefighters are still here at the hospital in critical condition. A fourth is at Jacobi hospital, in serious condition.
What happened today is extremely rare--firefighters losing water pressure, becoming trapped themselves, and having to jump out of a window for their lives. Two of them didn't make it.
Ray Cruz, witness: "The fire was pretty intense. You could see the flames coming out of the window, the wind was blowing. It was just too much for them."
It was a horrible situation.The fire conditions were so bad, that a lieutenant and firefighter jumped 50 feet to their deaths. It happened as firefighters battled flames on East 178th street.
The six firefighters were on the fourth floor, one level above the fire, when--for still unknown reasons--they lost water to their hoses.
The flames came through the floor, and the firefighters were faced with a terrible choice. Mayor Bloomberg: "They faced a horrible choice--either jumping from the fourth-floor window, or being burnt to death. They jumped, knowing they would be critically injured."
Dead tonight are Lt. Curtis Meyran, 46, of Battalion 26, a 15-year veteran; and Firefighter John Bellew, 37, of Ladder Company 27.
According to the Associated Press, the critically injured firefighters at St. Barnabas were Jeffery Cool, of Rescue 3, and Eugene Stolowski and Brendan Cawley, both of Ladder 27. Cawley's brother, Michael Cawley, died on Sept. 11, 2001.
"The Cawleys have given a lot for this great city and we pray that God doesn't take another member of this wonderful family," Bloomberg said.
Joseph DiBernardo, of Rescue 3, was at Jacobi Hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries, Bloomberg said.
The fire was caused by an overloaded extension cord that ignited a mattress. Investigators believe the apartments were illegally subdivided as well.
There were no injuries to the residents, who are now being housed by the Red Cross.
Nicholas Scoppetta, NYC Fire Commissioner: "This is what firefighters do every day. They put their lives out on the line. And, unfortunately, two of our members paid the ultimate price.
Now, the firefighters actually fell the equivalent of five stories as they landed in the basement level of the building. As to why they lost water pressure, that is still under investigation.
Lieutenant Meyran is survived by his wife and three children. Meyran's widow, Jeanette Meyran, reached by telephone by the Associated Press, said, "My husband was one who would put other people's safety before his own."
She said her husband loved his job and his children, ages 16, 10 and 6. "We're going to be lost without him for quite some time," she said.
His older brother, Glenn Meyran, of Malverne, on Long Island, said the family was stunned. "But you know when you take this job there's a risk with it," the brother said, "and he knew that, too."
Firefighter Bellew leaves behind a wife, and four kids.
And more tragic news for the FDNY. Yet another firefighter lost his life in the line of duty, this time a house fire in East New York. Click on the link below for that story.
(New York -WABC, January 23, 2005 ) — A devastating day for the New York City fire department. Three firefighters killed, battling two different fires--one in the Bronx, and one in Brooklyn.
Two firefighters are dead, and three firefighters are still here at the hospital in critical condition. A fourth is at Jacobi hospital, in serious condition.
What happened today is extremely rare--firefighters losing water pressure, becoming trapped themselves, and having to jump out of a window for their lives. Two of them didn't make it.
Ray Cruz, witness: "The fire was pretty intense. You could see the flames coming out of the window, the wind was blowing. It was just too much for them."
It was a horrible situation.The fire conditions were so bad, that a lieutenant and firefighter jumped 50 feet to their deaths. It happened as firefighters battled flames on East 178th street.
The six firefighters were on the fourth floor, one level above the fire, when--for still unknown reasons--they lost water to their hoses.
The flames came through the floor, and the firefighters were faced with a terrible choice. Mayor Bloomberg: "They faced a horrible choice--either jumping from the fourth-floor window, or being burnt to death. They jumped, knowing they would be critically injured."
Dead tonight are Lt. Curtis Meyran, 46, of Battalion 26, a 15-year veteran; and Firefighter John Bellew, 37, of Ladder Company 27.
According to the Associated Press, the critically injured firefighters at St. Barnabas were Jeffery Cool, of Rescue 3, and Eugene Stolowski and Brendan Cawley, both of Ladder 27. Cawley's brother, Michael Cawley, died on Sept. 11, 2001.
"The Cawleys have given a lot for this great city and we pray that God doesn't take another member of this wonderful family," Bloomberg said.
Joseph DiBernardo, of Rescue 3, was at Jacobi Hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries, Bloomberg said.
The fire was caused by an overloaded extension cord that ignited a mattress. Investigators believe the apartments were illegally subdivided as well.
There were no injuries to the residents, who are now being housed by the Red Cross.
Nicholas Scoppetta, NYC Fire Commissioner: "This is what firefighters do every day. They put their lives out on the line. And, unfortunately, two of our members paid the ultimate price.
Now, the firefighters actually fell the equivalent of five stories as they landed in the basement level of the building. As to why they lost water pressure, that is still under investigation.
Lieutenant Meyran is survived by his wife and three children. Meyran's widow, Jeanette Meyran, reached by telephone by the Associated Press, said, "My husband was one who would put other people's safety before his own."
She said her husband loved his job and his children, ages 16, 10 and 6. "We're going to be lost without him for quite some time," she said.
His older brother, Glenn Meyran, of Malverne, on Long Island, said the family was stunned. "But you know when you take this job there's a risk with it," the brother said, "and he knew that, too."
Firefighter Bellew leaves behind a wife, and four kids.
And more tragic news for the FDNY. Yet another firefighter lost his life in the line of duty, this time a house fire in East New York. Click on the link below for that story.
