“Meritorious Unit Citation” Award – Flood Rescue

01/11/2019, During the 23rd Annual Installation & Awards Banquet, Mayor Richard Goldberg and Chief Joseph Speranza presented the following;

“Meritorious Unit Citation” Award
On Monday April 16th, 2018 at approximately 9:34am, the department was dispatched to number 85 Wagaraw Rd. for reported workers trapped on the second floor of the building without egress due to flooding. Shortly after dispatch to the Wagaraw Rd. incident, dispatch to number 85 Wagaraw Rd. a second dispatch was requested for a reported water flow alarm at 1180 Goffle Rd. Hawthorne Chevy; the chief then dispatched Engine 1 and Tower 2 to the water flow alarm as E3, E4 and R5 was dispatched to the flooding incident. Engine 1 continued to operate at the Goffle Rd. incident and followed by investigating dangerous flooding near Lafayeffe and Warburton.

Upon arrival at the Wagaraw Rd. incident Chief Speranza noted and acknowledged several workers on the second floor landing of the buildings fire escape completely inaccessible from Wagaraw Rd. due to flooding.

Communication by Chief Speranza was made to the workers to remain on the second floor as conditions were unsafe to exit the building, water levels of approximately 3 foot with swift conditions existed in the area. As Chief Speranza contacted the workers he noted movement in the building which was number 73 Wagaraw Rd. and made visual and verbal contact with another worker trapped by the rising swift water. The worker was in extreme danger as water levels were rapidly increasing as well as the swiftness of the water. The worker was instructed several times to remain against the building, he then made an unsuccessful attempt to move away from the building and was quickly knocked down from the swift current of the flood waters and swept several feet from his original point of contact. The worker was luckily able to crab an electrical conduit at the corner of the building he was being swept away from and make his way back against the building, Chief Speranza instructed him to climb onto the 4 foot concrete planter located on the “D” side of the building. (this being the only portion of the area he would be above the flowing water). After two attempts the worker relocated to the elevated planter and Chief Speranza communicated with him as to stay put and hold on to a utility conduit until help arrived from the fire department. As conditions rapidly deteriorated and water levels increased significantly Chief Speranza requested Tower Two expedite to flooding incident as other units staged an attempt to provide a last change of assistance to the individual. Additional assignment where provided to E3 as other trapped in #85 Wagaraw Rd. and Engine 3 made access to #85 Wagaraw Rd. from Goffle, they assured the workers that they had a safe way out of the complex to the Goggle Rd. Side and provided accountability of the workers. Engine Four and Rescue Five staged in the opposite parking lot of the Bottgria Restaurant the event the worker was swept into the current of the flood waters. With this Tower Two set in place to deploy it’s aerial as the only safe option to rescue the worker from #73 Wagaraw Rd.

With Tower in place the aerial was utilized to reach the worker at approx. 60 foot from their point of operation within a few minutes successfully removed the worker to safety. This worker was in extreme danger stuck on a three foot tall by 5 foot long planter and now completely surround by swift flowing 3 foot deep water that was rising rapidly and beginning to overtake the planter he was standing on.

It is with the actions of the following members which removed the victim that the department recognizes for a “Meritorious Unit Citation”;