Thomas F. Dougherty Medal

Firefighter Joseph W. Honan Ladder Company 111

February 17, 2005, 0513 hours, Box 75-0932, 363 Jefferson Avenue, Brooklyn

Appointed to the FDNY on September 25, 1982. Previously assigned to Engine 38, Ladder 51 and Engine 214. Member of the Emerald Society. Recipient of two unit citations. Resides in Brooklyn with his wife, Diamond, daughter, Lauren, and sons, Joseph and Johnathan.

Jefferson Avenue in Brooklyn is a residential neighborhood featuring many brownstone-type structures. The community’s origin dates back to the late 1800s when these brownstones first were built as private dwellings. Brownstone buildings lined together in a row are among the most beautiful of all dwellings that the City’s landscape has to offer.

The buildings on Jefferson Avenue are four stories in height with a cellar. Common to brownstones, the basement is the first floor and the interior is of combustible construction, while the exterior shell is made of non-combustible material. However, 363 Jefferson Avenue was converted from its original occupancy usage from a private dwelling into a multiple dwelling and now totals four apartments.

Significant brownstone firefighting procedures include the immediate ventilation, entry and search of the top floors. These actions are mandatory and considered to be critical at a structural fire in this type building. Because of the poor integrity of individual rooms and areas, the single open interior stair often becomes involved in fire and heavily charged with smoke. Ultimately, these factors allow for rapid build-up of heat and smoke on the top floors, which often traps occupants above the fire.

On February 17, 2005, Ladder 111 was given the heads-up by Fire Department dispatchers that they were going to work at a brownstone fire in which a civilian was trapped on the third floor of 363 Jefferson Avenue in Brooklyn. Firefighter Joseph Honan, a 20-year veteran, knew how bad these fires can be because of the open, unprotected stairs between floors. 

On arrival, members of Ladder 111 entered the vestibule and were met by exiting civilians confirming that a young woman named Andres Pallidora was unable to get out of her upper-floor apartment. The members aggressively advanced up the stairs to their assigned positions on the third floor--the fire floor--and assumed first-due truck duties.

At the landing, Ladder 111’s inside team--Captain Gennaro Bonfiglio and FFs Honan with the irons and Michael King with the can, were met with a highly advanced, rapidly spreading fire that extended into the public hallway via an opened doorway. FF Honan, relying on his experience, instinctively crawled to the front of the apartment by the only means possible--the public hallway.

FF Honan used his tools and forced entry skillfully and unaided to the front room of the fire apartment. He was forced to lie flat on his stomach due to the high heat and pulsating smoke from a fully involved kitchen fire. The Firefighter advanced past the seat of the fire to reach Ms. Pallidora, now unconscious and severely burned.

Faced with a life-and-death decision, FF Honan knew his only chance to save the woman was to remove her quickly from the fire area. Unfortunately, this would require him to return to the fire area, dragging an unconscious victim past an advancing apartment fire.

Captain Bonfiglio, hearing the radio report of a found fire victim, immediately headed toward FF Honan’s location, while FF King continued to use his water extinguisher in an attempt to buy some time for the unfolding rescue. FF Honan relied on Captain Bonfiglio’s voice to guide him back toward the doorway he initially entered. By shielding Ms. Pallidora from the heat with his own body, FF Honan tested his endurance by dragging the unconscious female fire victim past the seat of the fire and to a place of refuge in the public hallway.

Ultimately, the young woman was removed from the building by members of Rescue 2. Care was transferred to EMS and Paramedics successfully revived Ms. Pallidora, who was severely burned and in cardiac arrest.

As of this date, Ms. Pallidora still is receiving out-patient medical treatment at Cornell Burn Center as a result of second- and third-degree burns covering 70 percent of her body. Her life is looking brighter, however, as she makes a remarkable recovery, thanks to the unselfish and brave actions of FF Joseph W. Honan.  He is presented with the Thomas F. Dougherty Medal.--PWB  

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