Third Alarm Association Medal

Firefighter Joseph Wakie Ladder Company 132

March 13, 2005, 0317 hours, Box 75-970, 579 Classon Avenue, Brooklyn

Appointed to the FDNY on November 14, 1999. Previously assigned to Engine 280. Father is retired Battalion Chief John M. Wakie. Member of the FDNY Football Team. Resides in Whitestone, Queens, with his wife, Lori, and their daughter, Ashley.

In the early hours of March 13, 2005, dispatchers at the Brooklyn Communications Office received a call for a fire at 579 Classon Avenue. Box 970 was transmitted. Within moments, the first-arriving units were on the scene and the 10-75 signal was transmitted. As Engine 235 was stretching their line, Ladder 132 and Engine 280 pulled up and immediately went to work.

The fire building was a four-story, non-fireproof multiple dwelling, typical of the many attached homes in the neighborhood. There was a heavy smoke condition coming from the front of the building, which indicated a fire in the lower floors. As the Officer and the forcible entry team approached the building, a civilian, Broderick Waldon, hysterically told the Firefighters his mother was still inside the building.

The Ladder 132 inside team immediately donned their facepieces and entered the building. Captain Robert Dimperio and FF Zachary Fletcher with the can proceeded down the hallway adjacent to the stairs. The Firefighter attempted to hold back the flames from extending up the interior to the upper floors by use of the extinguisher. FF Joseph Wakie, assigned to forcible entry, notified his Officer, broke off from the team and entered a doorway on the left side of the hallway to attempt a search for the missing woman.

Crawling on his hands and knees, FF Wakie entered a room, which was heavily charged with dense, acrid smoke and a moderate heat condition. After a quick search, he realized the fire was back further in the apartment. FF Wakie continued toward the rear. Crawling quickly toward the heat, he found a doorway, which led to a middle room, but the heat was so severe, FF Wakie now had to crawl on his stomach.

Realizing there was no line in position and only the extinguisher to hold back the fire, FF Wakie pushed himself a few feet into this highly heated room. From his position on the floor, he could see the flames burning freely in the rear room. Additionally, the flames now were entering the room he was in.

With very little visibility and an extremely high heat condition, FF Wakie used his hands and arms to locate a bed. Pulling himself up to search the middle of the bed, the heat became severe, but he continued to feel around the mattress. His efforts were rewarded by finding the victim, Viola Waldon, who was face-down on the bed. 

Due to the high heat condition, FF Wakie could not lift himself up, so he pulled the victim off the mattress and to the floor. He then gave the 10-45 code 2 signals to the Battalion and began to drag Mrs. Waldon toward the doorway through which he entered.

Once he got the victim through the doorway, he picked up her limp body and carried her to the interior hallway where FF Fletcher had come to assist him. Together, they removed Mrs. Waldon to the safety of the street where members of Squad 1 provided first aid until the arrival of EMS.

Mrs. Waldon was transported by EMS personnel to Kings County Hospital with numerous burns to her back, arms and legs.  She suffered severe smoke inhalation and was in a life-threatening condition.

Had it not been for the courage and tenacity of FF Wakie, this 83-year-old woman would have been another fire fatality. Pushing himself that extra yard under severe conditions, FF Joseph Wakie was quick to mention that the aggressive actions of Engines 280 and 235 facilitated the rescue. It is acts such as this that make FDNY Medal Day a fitting place to recognize the Bravest. He is presented with the Third Alarm Association Medal.—JTV

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