Mayor Bill de Blasio and Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro Announce the Death of Firefighter Steven H. Pollard

January 7, 2019

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro today announced the death of Firefighter Steven H. Pollard of Ladder Company 170 in Brooklyn, a 1 ½ year veteran of the FDNY who died from critical injuries sustained while operating at a motor vehicle accident on the Mill Basin Bridge in Brooklyn on Sunday, January 6, 2019.

“This is particularly painful because we've lost a young man, serving our city as a firefighter – Firefighter Steven Pollard, just 30 years old. Firefighter Pollard’s dad was a longtime member of the FDNY and his brother’s a member of the FDNY," said Mayor de Blasio. "This is a family that has done so much for New York City and now they're going through this loss of this pain. And it’s a very, very tough situation. He devoted his life to the people of our city and like his brother and his dad, he was trying to do such a good and important work. I want to thank all the firefighters and all the EMTs, who tried so valiantly to save him – all the personnel here at Kings County Hospital who did everything they could.”

“To lose a courageous young Firefighter just beginning his career like this is devastating to our entire Department,” said Commissioner Nigro. “Firefighter Steven Pollard bravely sought to help others. As his family mourns him, the Department mourns him, and certainly the citizens of our city mourn him as well.”

At approximately 10 p.m. on Sunday, January 6, Firefighter Pollard responded along with his fellow Firefighters from Ladder Company 170 to a report of a motor vehicle accident with injuries on an elevated portion of the west bound Belt Parkway, just east of Flatbush Avenue. As they were operating and proceeding to help the injured motorists at that accident, Firefighter Pollard slipped through a gap in the roadway and fell approximately 52 feet to the ground below. He was rushed to Kings County Hospital where he died from his injuries.

Firefighter Pollard was appointed as a Firefighter in June of 2017 and assigned to Ladder Company 170 in Brooklyn. He is the 1,151st member of the Department to make the Supreme Sacrifice in the line-of-duty. The last member of the Department to die in the line of duty was Lieutenant Michael R. Davidson of Engine Company 69 in Harlem, who was killed on March 23, 2018.

Firefighter Pollard is survived by his mother, Janet; father, retired Firefighter Raymond Pollard who served for 32 years in the FDNY; and his brother, Firefighter Raymond Pollard, an 11-year veteran of Ladder Company 114 in Brooklyn.

Funeral arrangements are pending.