Firefighters pull 61-year-old man from Woodmere blaze

Two firefighters from the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department rescued a 61-year-old man from a fire in a two-story, two-family house at 136 Prospect Ave. in Woodmere on Dec. 3. While other firefighters battled the fire and searched for other possible victims, the pair ascended the stairs and fought through clutter and smoke to save the upstairs resident.

A couple and their 4-year-old daughter, who lived on the first floor but were not home at the time, were relocated in the aftermath of the fire, which began at approximately 7:11 p.m. in the upstairs kitchen of the split-level home.

Three teams of two firefighters each fanned out through the house, and Capt. Anthony Rivelli Jr. and James McHugh, using a thermal imaging camera, found the man in a rear bedroom. His identity had not been released as the Herald went to press.

“A rescue like that, you try to go as fast as possible,” said McHugh, a five-year veteran of the department who is also a New York City emergency medical technician.

The firefighters’ job was made more difficult by a number of postal bins and other clutter upstairs that limited their maneuverability, according to McHugh.

“We were working together, and at the T in the hall we split up,” said Rivelli, who has been involved in three rescues in his 14 years with the department. “I went left and James went right. When I found the man trapped in the room, [McHugh] came over and assisted me.”

Rivelli and McHugh grabbed the man, and with the help of Woodmere firefighters Jason Hoffman and Ben Nelson, brought him out of the house, where Woodmere F.D. ambulance technicians administered life support.

The man was taken to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow with second-degree burns on his hands, neck and face and suffering from smoke inhalation. He was conscious, but his injuries were life-threatening, fire officials said.

The fire was brought under control by 8:03 p.m.

“Any time you go past a fire, you’re placing yourself in very, very grave danger,” said Woodmere Chief Richard Jankosky, who noted another feature of the house that complicated the rescue: The upstairs had no exit to the outside.

Rivelli, a New York City police officer for 10 years, and McHugh have deep roots in volunteer firefighting. Rivelli’s father, Anthony Sr., is a past chief of the Inwood department and is currently running for fire commissioner. McHugh is a fourth-generation firefighter whose father, John, is the second assistant chief of the Lawrence-Cedarhurst department.

Both said that helping people, saving lives and the camaraderie among people who are eager to learn new skills are the main reasons they enjoy being part of the Fire Department.

“They are a true pleasure to work with,” Jankosky said of Rivelli and McHugh. “I can’t say enough about them.” The chief said he would be nominating the duo for county recognition.

Relocated

The home’s first floor was damaged by smoke, and the family that lived there is now in Far Rockaway with friends. “We came home at 8:30 p.m. and saw the firemen,” said Diane Garcia, who lived in the house for eight months with her husband and daughter. She said they managed to get some possessions out.

“Volunteers from the Nassau Red Cross responded and provided funds for food and clothing to [them],” said Sam Kille, a Nassau County Red Cross spokesman.

Approximately 65 firefighters from the Woodmere, Lawrence-Cedarhurst, Inwood, Meadowmere Park and Hewlett departments responded, and 10 fire vehicles were on the scene, officials said.