FDNY and city officials are offering kudos to a Flushing firefighter who used 12-years of job experience and training to rescue a 12-year-old boy from a house fire.
The fire, sparked by a faulty hair dryer, began at 6:20 a.m. on January 19 in a two-family home on 202nd Street and 45th Avenue in Flushing, a fire spokesperson said.
Firefighter Antonio Velez, 33, of Engine 320 and his partner were waiting in front of the home for water pressure when they heard Jesse Lacovetta crying from inside the burning building.
Velez wasted no time making his way into the house to search for the little boy, fire officials said.
“I could barely see anything because of the black smoke,” Velez said.
Most of the flames and smoke were confined to the living room located on the first floor of the home. Velez made his way through the inferno and found Jesse in a nearby kitchen.
“He wasn’t saying anything but I heard moaning,” Velez said. “I saw movement in the kitchen and I grabbed an arm. I couldn’t tell who it was because they were covered in soot,” Velez said.
Velez rushed through the fire with the boy in his arms and carried him to the safety of a nearby ambulance, fire officials said.
Jesse was taken to Jacobi Medical Center, where he was treated for minor injuries. He was listed in stable condition at Jacobi.
“It would have been more difficult to find him if the fire had started at night,” Velez said. “I’m just glad he’s okay and things worked out in the best possible way.”
–Liz Goff