FDNY Members Reunite with Victim of Multiple Dwelling Queens Fire

November 28, 2016

The day before Thanksgiving, Firefighters from Engine Company 325 and Ladder Company 163, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) from Station 46, and Paramedics from Station 45 gathered at the quarters of Engine 325 Ladder 163 in Woodside, Queens to welcome Claudia Hernandez, a woman they rescued from a fire on Friday, October 7th, 2016.

“I’m overwhelmed with emotions, the only question I asked (after the fire) was ‘I just want to meet the members of the FDNY who saved my life’ and here I am,” said Ms. Hernandez.  “I’m so thankful I can be here to meet everyone who saved me, to have the opportunity to truly look them in the eyes to say you’re my angels, my heroes, and thank you so much for your bravery.”

On October 7th, 911 received a call at 4:52 a.m. with reports of an apartment fire in Sunnyside, Queens. Firefighter Sean Cosgrove and Firefighter Michael Paglino of Ladder Company 163 were among the first Firefighters to arrive.  They first rescued the son of Ms. Hernandez’s friend, but continued their search for additional people trapped.  Firefighter Cosgrove discovered Ms. Hernandez unconscious on the floor.

“Once Firefighter Paglino and I forced the door, we were met with fire. I knocked down as much as I could with the can [portable extinguisher], masked up and made the push in. We found a child by the window who informed us someone was still in the apartment. I immediately continued further down and found Claudia on the floor unconscious, Firefighter Paglino came in to help me bring her to the hallway where we began first aid and Captain Regan gave rescue breaths,” said Firefighter Cosgrove.

"We forced the door as quick as we could, and luckily, we got to her when we did, because minutes could have made a difference," said Firefighter Paglino.

"We had to make a decision. Do we stay there to administer CPR and wait for someone to come up to us, or do we do CPR while we transport her down to the first floor?" said Captain Regan.

Once outside, FDNY EMTs and Rescue Paramedics from Station 46 and 45 initiated advanced medical care and transported Ms. Hernandez to a local hospital. Ms. Hernandez was training for the New York City Marathon before this fire incident. She is motivated to fully recover and begin running again.

Firefighter Cosgrove credited his training and the team effort of FDNY members. “It is incredibly humbling to be a part of something like this, everything they teach in the Fire and EMS academy comes together and everyone does their job as one,” said Firefighter Cosgrove. “This was an unbelievable outcome.”