ENGINE 310/LADDER 174 (CONTINUED)
ENGINE 310/LADDER 17 MEDALS
BRIAN J. COLLELUORI LT. LAD. 174 FEB. 1, 2015 2016 BENNETT
February 1, 2015, 0323 hours, Box 22-2234, Brooklyn
At 0323 hours, Engine 310 and Ladder 174 received a call for a fire in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. It was a threestory Canarsie apartment building, attached to a similar dwelling on the left or exposure #2 side. The heavy, black smoke pouring from the first and second floors indicated a serious fire condition.
Lieutenant Brian Colleluori, Ladder 174, approached the building with FFs Kevin Koster, with the can, and William Duffy, with forcible entry tools. The exterior garage door was open and deadly smoke pushed through the space between the interior garage door and the door jamb. Firefighters Koster and Duffy went to work, forcing the interior door.
Lieutenant Colleluori opened the unlocked door under the front stoop and was met with heavy, pressurized smoke and high heat. He heard the signal 10-70 (water supply delay likely) transmitted by Engine 310’s chauffeur. His outside vent Firefighter alerted him to heavy fire blowing out the building’s rear windows. Lieutenant Colleluori entered the building, initiating a search for trapped occupants. Advancing 25 feet into the blinding smoke and high heat, he found the unconscious form of a man lying on the floor.
After transmitting a signal 10-45 to alert Battalion Chief John McKeon, Battalion 58, Lieutenant Colleluori began dragging the man toward the interior garage door, which had been forced open. Moving the victim was difficult because of his large size. Meeting up with his interior team, they completed removal to the street.
Still operating without a protective hand-line, Lieutenant Colleluori returned to his search, toward the rear of the building, where he encountered an unconscious female. As fire rolled over the Lieutenant’s head, he transmitted a second 10- 45 signal. Now, forced to his knees by the brutal heat, Lieutenant Colleluori began to drag this second victim toward the front of the building. Conditions deteriorated and quickly approached flashover conditions. The increased heat drove the Lieutenant down onto his stomach. Lieutenant Colleluori’s progress was slow as he dragged her, from his knees, to safety.
Fire now was only two feet from the floor and no further progress to the exit was possible. Lieutenant Colleluori put himself at risk by shielding the victim from the heat by lying on top of her. He called for a hose-line or extinguisher to protect them. The fire, rolling above the pair, extended for 27 feet and vented out of the exterior garage door in the front of the building.
FF Koster crawled in under the flames with his extinguisher and expelled its entire contents into the fire area. He was followed by the Officer and Firefighters of Engine 310, dragging their charged hose-line with them. They pushed back the fire, allowing Lieutenant Colleluori and FF Koster to pull the victim down the narrow hall, leading to the under stoop exit.
Lieutenant Colleluori’s quick and decisive actions saved the man’s life. The victim was removed to the hospital and treated for burns. The Officer’s decision to remain and protect the woman was made despite adverse conditions and the absence of a hose-line. Regrettably, she later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
Lieutenant Colleluori’s turnout coat was sent to the Safety Battalion. It was condemned after determining that it had been exposed to temperatures at or above 1,000 degrees, a strong indication of the danger the Lieutenant faced. The bravery and perseverance of Lieutenant Brian J. Colleluori exemplify the highest FDNY traditions of courage, dedication and service, making him eminently worthy of the James Gordon Bennett Medal/ NYS Honorary Fire Chiefs Association Medal.
Life-saving firefighter Brian Colleluori wins James Gordon Bennett Medal, FDNY's highest honor
By
AIDAN MCLAUGHLIN and
RICH SCHAPIRO
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS |
JUN 01, 2016 AT 6:06 PM
An FDNY lieutenant who barreled into a burning Brooklyn building and pulled out a hulking man and unconscious woman was honored Wednesday with the department's highest award.
Brian Colleluori, of Ladder 174 in East Flatbush, was feted with the James Gordon Bennett Medal for his extraordinary act of bravery on Feb. 1, 2015.
"I'm just very humbled to be selected for this medal," Colleluori, 38, said after a ceremony outside City Hall.
The 15-year vet didn't hesitate before racing inside a three-story building in Canarsie as it was engulfed by a fast-moving blaze, officials said.
Colleluori, after advancing 25 feet into blinding smoke, found a heavyset man unconscious. The smoke-eater managed to drag the victim to a garage where firefighters helped bring him to safety.
"[Colleluori] turned back and looked at the building and saw that the fire was growing," Mayor de Blasio said.
"Literally flames — 27-foot flames were reported — shooting out of the windows. Imagine the danger, and imagine the decision the Lieutenant had to make.
"Well because he is a leader in this FDNY, he made the decision to go back into the building."
With the fire rolling overhead, Colleluori was forced to his knees after bursting back inside. Still he managed to find a woman collapsed in the rear of the building.
But the fire was intensifying, and there was no clear exit.
"So Lieutenant Colleluori did the only thing left he could do — he used his own body as a shield, praying his gear would hold out and protect them both," de Blasio said.
New York City Fire Department (FDNY)
May 31, 2016 ·
In the early morning hours of February 1, 2015, FDNY Engine 310 and Ladder 174 responded to a fire in a 3-story apartment building in Canarsie. FDNY Lt. Brian Colleluori, of Ladder 174, approached the building with Firefighter Kevin Koster and Firefighter William Duffy. Upon entering the home, Lt. Colleluori was met with heavy smoke and high heat. Even though a water delay was likely, he wasted no time in initiating a search for trapped occupants, and after advancing 25 feet into the blinding smoke, found a man lying on the floor, unconscious. Moving the patient was difficult due to his large size, but Lt. Colleluori managed to drag him into the garage, where additional members helped to move the man to safety. Still operating without a protective hand-line, Lt. Colleluori made his way to the rear of the building, where he found an unconscious female. Forced to his knees by the brutal heat, and with fire rolling over his head, the Lieutenant began to drag the patient towards the front of the home. As conditions intensified, he was forced to shield the patient from the heat by lying on top of her as the fire rolled over them. Firefighter Koster crawled under the flames with an extinguisher, and was followed by members from Engine 310, who pushed back the fire, allowing Lt. Colleluori and Firefighter Koster to pull the patient to safety. Lt. Colleluori’s quick and decisive actions saved the man’s life. Regrettably, the female patient later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. Lt. Colleluori’s turnout coat was condemned after determining that it had been exposed to temperatures at or above 1,000 degrees, a strong indication of the danger he had faced. The bravery and perseverance of Lieutenant Brian J. Colleluori exemplify the highest FDNY traditions of courage, dedication and service, making him eminently worthy of the James Gordon Bennett Medal/NYS Honorary Fire Chiefs Association Medal, which he will receive at tomorrow’s 147th annual FDNY Medal Day ceremony
2/1/15 Brooklyn 2nd Alarm Box 2234
[IMG alt="Signal73"]https://www.nycfire.net/forums/data/avatars/m/5/5007.jpg?1590593730[/IMG]
Signal73
Fire Location: 216 East 89 St.
Fire in a PD.
10-70 also transmitted.
S/c 2 additional engines
S/c 1 truck
2 10-45s Code 2s
@03:56 2nd Alarm fire thru out a PD
2nd Alarm
E227,248,234,233
L123,157
B41,37,38
RB,SB
FC
Tac2
E159 w/ Sat. 5
@02:05 D15. 4 L/S/O
@05:50 D15 1 10-45 Code 1. 1 10-45 Code 2. 1 10-45 Code 3. & 4 10-45s Code 4s