Fireman on rescue: ‘I just did my job’
Published: January 10, 2007
Sean Lucas has seen plenty of intense moments during his 12 years as a firefighter, but he says the memory of his heroism Sunday night will always be a high point of his career.
He said he wants his actions in saving the life of a baby boy during a duplex fire to serve as an example for his young children.
“They understand that, when I go to work, I am going to help people,” Lucas said. “I took this job to help people. I just did my job.”
At 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Southern Manatee Fire Rescue responded to a fire in the 100 block of 59th Avenue East.
Twenty firefighters found a duplex engulfed in smoke and flames. The fire was so bad that, after entering the building, firefighters had to evacuate the duplex and fight the blaze from the outside.
All of the residents from both units of the building got out safely. But, as Lucas battled the blaze, a woman from one of the units came up with a baby boy in her arms, suffering from smoke inhalation.
“She said her baby was not breathing,” said Lucas.
Things were bad for the child. He had no pulse.
“The baby was totally unresponsive,” Lucas said.
He began CPR and the baby regained his pulse and resumed breathing.
By that time, Manatee County Emergency Services had arrived. Lucas gave the child to emergency workers and went back to the fire.
Lucas has been a firefighter for 12 years, seven in the military and five with Southern Manatee, but Sunday’s events were a first.
“It is a once-in-a-career event. Our goal every time we go to a scene is to save lives. And we did that,” said Lucas.
Firefighters and emergency personnel have to be ready to deal with crisis situations as though they are routine, according to Manatee County Public Safety spokesman Capt. Larry Leinhauser.
“It was not a routine situation. But for us it is,” he said. “It is the kind of outcome we like.”
Leinhauser said after Lucas’ heroics, the baby was airlifted to All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, in stable condition.
The name of the child has not been released. The family could not be reached for comment.
Lucas is also admired by his peers.
“He did a great job, a great thing,” said Southern Manatee Battalion Chief Pete Donchenko. “He did what everyone in this business hopes to do in a situation like that.”
Donchenko said the cause of the fire was still under investigation. One of two families has been assisted by the American Red Cross, according to Erin Marsh, the agency’s emergency services coordinator in Manatee County.
Marsh said the Red Cross offers food, financial assistance, temporary housing and clothing to victims of fires. She said a family of four contacted the Red Cross and has received help.
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