Monthly Archives: May 2014

Firefighter Lawrence Virgilio

Firefighter Lawrence Virgilio, an advanced rescue specialist with Squad 18, had recently been chosen to train for the elite FDNY team that would travel to other cities for disaster response. Virgilio joined the FDNY in 1989. A couple years later … Continue reading

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Firefighter Manuel Mojica

Firefighter Manuel Mojica was 37. He had six tattoos, a Harley, and a fingerless whistle so loud he always used it instead of the doorbell to let his fiancé know he had arrived. He married that fiancé and they had … Continue reading

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Firefighter Timothy Haskell

There are two sets of FDNY brothers among the 343. Timothy Haskell, 34, with the nickname “Dude,” was one of them. With his Dalmation, Blaze, who was trained to “stop, drop and roll” he volunteered his time to teach fire … Continue reading

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Firefighter David Halderman

It was reported that firefighter David Halderman, 40, was on the 18th floor and on his way down out of the North Tower when he and another Squad 18 member responded to a May Day from another company and returned … Continue reading

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Firefighter Andrew Fredericks

Firefighter Andy Fredericks was a co-author of the FDNY Engine Company Ops Manual. He was also a NYS certified fire instructor and taught at fire service training meetings across the US. He had 2 bachelors degrees, poly-sci and public safety/fire … Continue reading

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Firefighter Eric Allen

Firefighter Eric Allen, 44, was a short, packed powerhouse. Standing 5’5” he was tough, strong and capable. He took extra courses to qualify for Squad 18. Described by friends as “a sweetie with a crust,” his motto was “Do the … Continue reading

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Lt. William McGinn

Lt. William McGinn, was trained as a civil engineer but thought firefighting would be more interesting work. An 18-year FDNY veteran, his wife said, “He understood how structures and materials fail. He would have had a field day with this … Continue reading

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Squad 18

Engine Company 18 became SQUAD 18 in 1998 when the FDNY decided units were needed to respond to specialized rescue scenarios like Haz-Mat. Based in an 1891 building in the West Village, Squad 18 also handles “high-angle rescues” like on … Continue reading

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Firefighter Matthew Rogan

Matthew Rogan, 37, joined the FDNY in 1994, after eight years with the NYPD, following the paths of his father and brother. Famously unassuming, birthdays brought unwelcome attention and Christmas was too commercial. In 1997, after swimming through the ice-cold … Continue reading

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Firefighter Richard Kelly Jr.

There are three Kellys among the 343 – which should probably not being surprising. Richard Kelly, Jr., the senior man at Ladder Co. 11, had just completed his 24th year with the FDNY. Music was a passion. He had collected … Continue reading

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