Lt. Dies During Williamsburg Rescue
A Fire Department officer killed in a Williamsburg apartment house blaze last Saturday night, July 5, previously served at Battalion 28 on the Ridgewood/Bushwick border in Brooklyn.
Lt. Gordon Matthew Ambelas, 40, served for several months at the unit based on Himrod Street before being reassigned to Ladder Co. 119 in Williamsburg earlier this year.
Ambelas died while attempting to pull victims out of a burning, clutterfilled apartment on Wilson Street during a second-alarm inferno that broke out at about 9:10 p.m. last Saturday night. Fire marshals later stated the blaze appeared to have been sparked by a damaged air conditioner cord.
Firefighters reportedly found Ambelas unconscious inside the 19th floor unit and pulled him from the building. Paramedics rushed the lieutenant to Woodhull Hospital Center, where he was pronounced dead.
“New York has suffered a terrible and tragic loss tonight with the death of Lt. Gordon Ambelas, who heroically died trying to protect and save others-something he’s done for more than 14 years for the city,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a press conference at Woodhull Hospital. “We are all very fortunate to have the men and women of the FDNY at the ready to risk their own lives so each and every one of us can be safe. But unfortunately, tonight, one of New York’s Bravest has paid the ultimate price, and we all mourn his loss.”
“We are deeply shocked and saddened at the loss of one of our own-a devoted, veteran firefighter who had an enormous love for his job and our mission to help save others,” added Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro.
Several weeks ago, Ambelas was honored by members of Williamsburg’s Hasidic community for saving the life of a 7-year-old boy who became trapped in a roll-down metal gate on Skillman Street back in May.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Lt. Gordon Ambelas while saving yet another life, less than 10 days after we were honoring him for saving the life of Mendy Gotlieb,” said Rabbi David Niederman, executive director of the United Jewish Organization of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn. “We express our deepest condolences to the family and we keep his two young daughters in our prayers. We also want to share our condolences with the FDNY as a whole, and specifically Ladder 119, and the Hooper Street station-house. Lieutenant Ambelas’ memory will live on in Mendy and the many others he saved, and of course in the precious family he’s leaving behind.”
Ambelas was the first firefighter to die in the line of duty since April 2012, when Lt. Richard Nappi of Bushwick’s Engine Co. 237 succumbed to cardiac arrest while fighting a Flushing Avenue blaze.
A resident of Staten Island, Ambelas is survived by his wife, Nanette, and their two children.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Ambelas will be held this morning, Thursday, July 10, at St. Clare’s Church in Staten Island.
