Rescue rookie breaks rules, saves woman from fire
Published: September 4, 2007
New York — Michael Colombo, 30, is assigned to Engine No. 8/Ladder Co. 2 of the 8th Battalion. Monday they were the first to respond and arrive to a fire in an apartment on the 11th floor at 320 E. 54th St.
The fire was raging through the apartment. Word came to the firefighters; there’s a 59 year old woman in there and she hasn’t come out yet!
Against standard rules of procedure, Michael went in, crawling through thick smoke towards the unconscious woman.
“There was no time to wait for the hose line, so we went in without the protection of the hose line, which you’re really not supposed to do. But we couldn’t wait.
About 10 crawl paces into the apartment, I found her. She was hunched over and unconscious on the floor in the living room.”
Michael was able to drag the woman out of the fire. She’s now reported to be doing well after treatment for smoke inhalation at the Cornell Burn Unit at New York Presbyterian Hospital.
“It’s my first rescue. It’s exciting. It’s what you come on the job for. It feels good, the satisfaction of helping someone make it through.”
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