By Jeff Lipton
The occupants of an apartment in the building, a woman and her 2-month-old baby, didn't evacuate on their own, but rather were saved by two men who rushed into the burning, smoke-filled structure and pulled them to safety.
Witnesses have come forward to say that the two men, Davion James, 26, of Roosevelt, and Ronald Washington, dashed into the burning building at 206 Rockaway Turnpike and made their way to the third floor through hallways choked with smoke to save Gina Bernier and her 2-month-old daughter, Giana.
I really owe my life to Davion and Ronald, said Bernier, who reunited with James in front of the burned-out building on Dec. 11 to personally thank him. I wouldn't be standing here today if it were not for them.
James said he was in the neighborhood shortly after 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3, on a job interview when he saw smoke billowing from the building, which is used as a showroom for Spitz & Peck Florists. He and Washington, a manager at The Party Source, adjacent to the burning building, dashed into the structure when they learned that Bernier and her baby might be trapped inside.
I saw the fire coming from the top of the roof, James said. Both me and the manager went upstairs. When I reached the door, there was a lot of smoke coming from the second floor. We ran from the second to the third floor, where they live.
I really didn't know what was going to happen to me, James added. I was just concerned about the mother and the baby. The baby is just two months old.
Bernier said she was sleeping and didn't realize what was happening until she was roused from her sleep by Washington, who led her to safety. Meanwhile, James carried the baby through the smoke-filled hallways to safety. Both men realized they did not have much time to act.
The hallways were full of black smoke, Bernier said. I could not see anything. The only thing I could do is feel for the step. As I was walking down the hallway, I slipped on the stairs.
Thanks to the efforts of James and Washington, all were evacuated without injury, but not without notice. Woodmere resident Jonathan Brach said he was driving by at the time, on his way home from work, and witnessed their heroic actions. Those two guys ran into the building full of smoke, Brach said. And they came out with the woman and a baby. It was very, very heroic what they did.
I think that's the most outstanding thing that I ever saw in my life, Brach added.
Edwin Rosario, who worked in the building for a cabinet maker, is also thankful for the heroic and selfless actions of James and Washington. I was on the second floor at the time and didn't know what was going on, and then I heard two voices screaming, ÔFire, fire, fire!' Rosario recounted. I opened up the door and the hallway was full of smoke. The two guys then disappeared in the smoke, and then I saw the two guys pulling out a girl and her baby.
I think what they did was great, Rosario said. Their actions saved my life. The smoke was getting very black.
Bernier, who has lived in the building for about two years, said she lost about $20,000 worth of furniture, clothing and valuables in the fire and has had to relocate to Far Rockaway, where she has been living with friends. She thanked several people, including the owners of Spitz & Peck, The Party Source and Rite Time convenience store for helping her try to get back on her feet by donating money to replace her belongings and help her find a new place to live. Since then, others have come forward to offer her assistance.
She also applauded the efforts of the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department, which controlled the fire before it got out of hand.
Fire Chief John Heidrich said his firefighters contained the blaze, for the most part, to the front area of the first floor. He said if the fire reached the second floor, it could have been a disaster, because a cabinet maker stored hundreds of gallons of paint thinner up there.
Fire officials, who gave initial details of the fire, said they were unaware of the actions of James and Washington.
The cause of the fire, which was not deemed suspicious, is still under investigation, officials said.
