Albert S. Johnston Medal

Lieutenant Lawrence E. Tompkins Ladder Company 120

May 5, 2005, 0752 hours, Box 75-1690, 393 Powell Street, Brooklyn

Appointed to the FDNY on August 19, 1990. Previously assigned to Ladder 7 and Squad 252. Member of the Emerald Society. Recipient of two unit citations and a Service Rating A. Resides in Manhattan with his wife, Joelle, and stepdaughter, Ersellia.

A fire in a fireproof multiple dwelling can be extremely hot and--depending on wind conditions and building air flow patterns--very difficult to extinguish. In the past 20 years, many factors have changed that affect FDNY firefighting procedures. Members no longer fight fires in residential buildings where the fire load is natural fiber-based. With the onset of the chemical age, properties of the average residential furnishings are, for the most part, petroleum-based. As Lieutenant Lawrence Tompkins of Ladder 120 would experience first-hand, the fire load has increased tremendously, resulting in higher temperatures and faster spreading fires.

As Brooklyn Box 1690 was transmitted for smoke from the second floor, the responding members of Ladder 120 instantly began to talk up an operational plan. They recalled the dangers of indiscriminate ventilation, as well as the potential for rapid fire and extensive heavy smoke development on the fire floor and floors above.

Arriving at 393 Powell Avenue on May 5, 2005, at approximately 0800 hours, members of Ladder 120 were met with a heavy smoke condition that completely obscured the lobby entrance to the fire building, a 25-story, fireproof multiple dwelling occupied predominantly by senior citizens.

Instinctively, Ladder 120’s outside team began to ladder the outside of the building as the inside team--led by Lieutenant Lawrence Tompkins--proceeded up the “A” staircase to the second floor where the fire was reported.

Traveling upward in a blinding smoke condition, Lieutenant Tompkins was notified by radio that security personnel were confirming that a wheelchair occupant was still in the fire apartment. Arriving on the second floor, it became apparent what needed to be done--traverse a 40-foot hallway without the protection of a charged hose-line and rescue a trapped civilian occupant.

With little time remaining, Lieutenant Tompkins led his forcible entry team down the long hallway into the fire apartment, with the knowledge that an elderly victim was trapped inside. Entering the fire apartment, members of Ladder 120 were met with an advanced fire that had possession of the living room, foyer and entrance doorway.

Forced to go down flat onto his stomach, Lieutenant Tompkins pushed into the fire apartment. About 12 feet in, he came across Michael Spencer, who was unconscious and “on fire.” Immediately after smothering the flames that were burning the clothes off Mr. Spencer’s unconscious body, Lieutenant Tompkins and the rest of Ladder 120’s forcible entry team removed the critically injured victim to a safe area of refuge in the public stairway.

With burns over 40 percent of his body, unfortunately, the 79-year-old Michael Spencer did not survive his injuries. This fact in no way diminishes Lieutenant Tompkins’ selfless act of bravery while encountering risk to his own life. For these reasons, Lieutenant Lawrence Tompkins is presented with the Albert S. Johnston Medal.--PWB 

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