FDNY Firefighters Save Seven in Burning Residence With A Series of Daring, Dangerous Rescues

June 13, 2004 -- Firefighters saved seven people from a Bronx inferno last night with a series of daring and dangerous rescues, fire officials said. The blaze broke out on the top floor of a three-story Bruckner Boulevard building in Longwood just after 7 p.m., causing dozens of firefighters to spring into action.

When the smoke-eaters arrived, they quickly realized that they were facing a multifaceted rescue that included rushing into the building, bringing people down on a ladder and scaling down ropes to pluck people out of windows.

Maximo Vasquez, 53, was brought out of the building by a firefighter, but his unidentified girlfriend had a much more harrowing experience.

A number of firefighters climbed onto the roof from an adjoining building and lowered down Firefighter Pat McKenna of Rescue 3 and another firefighter on ropes in order to grab the girlfriend and another man and lower them to safety.

"It was very, very hairy," said Lt. Kevin Williams, who added that the billowing smoke and intense heat almost caused the panicking woman to jump out the window.

Firefighter Dennis Quinn of Ladder 42 used a ladder to pull three children -- a 3-, 5- and 7-year-old -- and another woman out of a front window.

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