Engine 298 honored for rescue

At the Fire Department’s annual Medal Day, Engine 298 in Jamaica was honored for saving four people in a 2004 fire. The team was presented with the Lt. James Curran/New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation/Father Julian F. Deeken Memorial Medal, which is given once every three years to the company that has demonstrated exceptional action during the call of duty.
On September 6, 2004, firefighters from Engine 298 responded to a call at a two-and-a-half story private house, where flames were leaping out of windows on the second and top floors.
“It was an advanced fire on arrival with a lot of people hanging out windows,” said Lieutenant Mike Golini, who said that only two fire trucks responded to the fire – one less than usual.
At the scene, one person hung out of second floor window, while three others huddled in the attic – then climbed onto the roof, and firefighters were forced to battle the flames to keep the people from jumping until tall ladders arrived.
Golini said that the team broke through a side door, put out the fire on the ground floor, and then blasted the second floor fire with water. By the time the firefighters made their way to the attic – about 10 minutes later – the fire was extinguished enough to prevent the people on the roof from getting burned and jumping off.
“With a fire like that it feels like hours.” Golini said, adding that the fire was one of the most advanced he’s seen in his 13 years on the job.
Had the fire, which started near 11 p.m., occurred later, people might have been sleeping Golini said. Thanks to Engine 298’s fast work, none of the four people received serious injuries in the fire – only cuts, bruises and smoke inhalation.
Of the award, Golini said that his company was just doing their job.
“We were fortunate that we just happened to be picked. It could have been any other engine company in the city responding to that fire,” he said.
Nevertheless, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said during the award ceremony that the winners’ actions demonstrated extreme and commendable courage.
“The leadership and bravery shown by the medal winners today are shining examples of the life-saving work performed by the members of this department every day,” Bloomberg said.