Give that hero a plate of Riblets!
Edward Clas, who selflessly ran into a burning building to save his Ozone Park neighbors, was honored with a Local Hero Award at Applebee’s in Fresh Meadows on Tuesday, May 26.
“Edward did an unbelievable thing,” said Danny Jimenez, General Manager of the Fresh Meadows restaurant. “To run into a burning building to save three lives is really incredible. Applebee’s is more than happy to recognize him for his actions.”
Clas’ actions include running into a burning building to save three neighbors from their Ozone Park house on Wednesday, April 14. They presented the Corrections Department mechanic and his family with a plaque that will hang in the restaurant, as well as a free meal.
Clas, 51, said that while he is grateful for all the attention, he would have been content to just go back to his everyday life without any fanfare. Instead, praise for his heroics began almost immediately, with his grateful neighbors sending him an Edible Arrangements care package.
“I never expected anything like what has happened the last few weeks,” said Clas. “If the cops had not come to my house after the fire, I would have just gone about my business.”
However, Clas’ business now involves media interviews, meeting the mayor, first pitches and honorary plaques. But Clas believes a lot of the media glare has been misdirected; the true hero, to Clas, is his daughter Kendall, who initially smelled the smoke.
“If she (Kendall) had not came in and told me about the smell, I never would have known,” he said. “To me, she’s the real hero.”
Ken Feldman, Applebee’s vice president of marketing, said that no matter who Clas believes the true hero to be, the restaurant will never turn down a chance to honor a treasured member of the community.
“We want to be good Applebee’s citizens,” said Feldman. “And this is our opportunity to give thanks to the community and its members.”
