A great day for the FDNY

From the NY Times:

When firefighters arrived at 83-28 Dongan Avenue in Elmhurst about 9:20 a.m., flames were blowing from the second-floor bedroom windows in the back of the wood-frame house, and smoke was billowing upward, fire officials said.

Residents said that people were still inside the house, and that “there were jumpers in the rear,” said Firefighter Hugh Giffords, a department spokesman. Carrying a pry bar with several points, called a Halligan tool, plus a 6-foot hook, and a 24-foot metal ladder, Firefighter Moritz, 31, of Ladder Company 138, raced down an alley beside the house. He was what is known as the outside vent man — responsible for releasing smoke and steam from a burning structure as firefighters inside aim water at the flames. But he was also looking for people inside, the fire officials said.

Wearing more than 100 pounds of equipment, Firefighter Moritz climbed up to a setback — a small roof off the main roof. There, he noticed a household ladder that was perched at a 70-degree angle and led to the attic.

The firefighter went up the second ladder, smashed the attic window with his tools, climbed inside and found a man lying unconscious on the floor.

Using his radio, he called for assistance, said James Long, a department spokesman.

Within moments, firefighters from Ladder Company 154 and other units came racing up interior stairs in the house and took the man safely down to the street, where paramedics with the city’s Emergency Medical Service were waiting.

Firefighter Prior said the victim was revived at the scene.