Ner Tamid Society/ Franklin Delano Roosevelt Medal

Firefighter Edward F. Cancro Rescue Company 4

January 30, 2005, 0619 hours, Box 33-4369, 88-28 162nd Street, Jamaica, Queens

Appointed to the FDNY on July 25, 1993. Previously assigned to Engines 271 and 48. Nephew, FF Jon Kappel, is assigned to Ladder 44. Attended Nassau Community College. Recipient of two unit citations. Resides in Ronkonkoma, Long Island, with his wife, Robin, and their son, Dominic, and daughter, Samantha.

Queens Box 4369 sounded for a fire in the basement of a private dwelling at 88-22 162nd Street. Due to numerous calls, Rescue 4 responded on the initial alarm. Engine 298 gave the 10-75 on arrival for the reported fire. As Rescue 4 arrived, an advanced fire condition was evident with fire showing from the basement and the first and second floors. The fire also communicated to exposure #4 via the front porch.

It was FF Edward F. Cancro’s responsibility to get above the fire. Assigned as the forcible entry Firefighter, he first attempted to get to the floor above by way of the interior stairs. This proved to be impossible due to the fire conditions. As an alternate plan, he climbed a portable ladder at the rear, exposure #2 side of the fire building.

On entry, conditions were severe and there was no hand-line on the second floor. Visibility was zero and heat conditions were high. FF Cancro began a left-hand search of the rear bedroom, working his way to the bedroom door. Reaching the door, he then searched this area that led into the kitchen. The search continued into the next bedroom in the rear (exposure #4 side), where the Officer and members of Ladder 125 were operating.

FF Cancro continued the search of the bedroom while Ladder 125 moved a 10-45 unconscious victim toward the window. His search brought him back out into the kitchen. Fire was rapidly extending into this and other areas of the second floor. After making a quick sweep, conditions forced the Firefighter back into the original exposure #2 side--the rear bedroom.

At this time, fire conditions were so severe that Deputy  Chief Paul Ferro of Division 13 began to order all members out of the building. When made aware that rescue operations were underway, Chief Ferro ordered interior operations to continue.

FF Cancro transmitted to Captain Gandiello that FFs and victims were still in the rear bedrooms. From the window, FF Cancro verbally informed Chief Ferro that victims were still trapped on the second floor. He then requested a hand-line to be brought up the ladder to protect the Firefighters and victims. This would be the only way to gain access for extinguishment of the second floor as the interior stairs were involved in fire and now partially collapsed.

FF Cancro crawled to the door and opened it so Engine 303 could advance on the fire. He then crawled back into the exposure #4 side, rear bedroom. There, he made his way to the window, where he began the arduous task of removing the first unconscious victim, Parbattie Seunarine, age 42. He placed a girth hitch on the victim with his personal rope, lifted her onto the windowsill and passed her out to Lieutenant Joseph Fernicola of Ladder 125.

Now concentrating on the second victim, FF Cancro began to drag Dhavindranauth Seunarine (who ultimately perished), age 43, to the window and passed him out to FF John Genna, detailed to Ladder 125. Physically exhausted, FF Cancro dragged the third victim, Devindranauth Seunarine, age 13, approximately five feet back to the window. He maneuvered him out the window to Lieutenant Fernicola, who again was on the ladder to assist in removal. After completing the victim removals, FF Cancro continued to operate and search the second floor, working forward to the front rooms with Engine 303.

Initially, FF Cancro operated on the floor above without the protection of a hose-line and continued to do so as this fire rapidly extended. His decisive and aggressive actions, combined with clear and accurate communications, were instrumental in the protection of the unconscious victims. Without his courage and determination, all of these victims surely would have perished.

FF Edward F. Cancro’s actions were in the highest traditions of Rescue Company 4. It is with great honor that the New York City Fire Department awards FF Cancro with the Ner Tamid Society/Franklin Delano Roosevelt Medal.—TW

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