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‘Wicked Cool’
Rescues at Box 1583

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Firefiighters pulled Graling to the roof and performed CPR on her. (WBZ)

Firefiighters pulled Graling to the roof and performed CPR on her. (WBZ)

During the firefight in Boston’s Back Bay, two significant rescues took place that have captured the media’s attention. Most notable is that of Kelly Graling. Ms. Graling’s rescue was captured by overhead news helicopters when she was removed to the roof of 483 Beacon Street. Initially believing the sounding alarm to be a false alarm, like an earlier call, Kelly noted that she was reluctant to leave the building at first. After seeing smoke, the last thing she said she remembered was trying to get to the roof.



“Upon reentering the blazing complex, [Firefighter Joe] Hughes aided in the rescue of a young woman on the roof in “full cardiac arrest, with no pulse and no respirations.’’ Firefighter Scott Coyne performed CPR, while Lieutenant Robert Dean gave her his face piece, Hughes said. “Things spiral really quickly,’’ Hughes, of Walpole, said, adding that the hot weather, the heavy smoke, and the old building’s narrow stairwells and lack of a sprinkler system all contributed to the confusion.
Boston Globe

““She was completely tense. You couldn’t open her jaw for an airway. So that’s when we decided that she’s not going to get any better on the roof, there is no way to get her down, so I just picked her up and stumbled down the 11 flights of stairs with the aid of everybody else,” said Starr.

As Starr made his way down, the Graling regained consciousness.

“By the third floor she would grab onto me, you could feel it, then she was let go a little bit and grab on a little bit more,” said Starr.”
WHDH

L.26 Lieutenant Steve Mitchell describes actions he and his company took to effect the rescue of the penthouse occupant

L.26 Lieutenant Steve Mitchell describes actions he and his company took to effect the rescue of the penthouse occupant

Another rescue was taking place as well, involving the second due truck, Ladder Co.26. Searching on the floor above, the company was assigned to locate and remove an occupant seen hanging out of a tenth floor window. Due to an open stairwell and apartment door, the top floor was charged with smoke. Inside the penthouse apartment Lieutenant Mitchell and resident Christian Vasilopoulo shared the air in Mitchell’s SCBA while firefighter John Flaherty searched for an additional way out or clear room. Flaherty found a clear room and the trio then sheltered in place until the engine companies had the fire knocked down. “We talked to him about jumping down three floors to (a landing) or climbing across (a ledge) and then jumping over onto (an adjacent) building,” Mitchell said. “We just tried to calm him down and waited inside until the fire was knocked down. The credit for us getting home goes to the engine companies for knocking down that fire.” Firefighters Save 4 in Back Bay Blaze


“Mitchell told WBZ’s Jonathan Elias that he was considering his options on what to do next — whether to jump to the seventh floor roof or continue hanging out of the window. At the same time, he had taken off his air pack and gave it to the man.

He sent another member of the company to search for a way out of the condo. Mitchell said as that firefighter was searching, he ran out of air in his pack.

So you’re essentially trapped in that room then?” asked Elias.

“Well, I didn’t want to think like that,” replied Mitchell.

They closed the door to the apartment, and the other firefighter found a room that was not being affected by the smoke.

“I don’t know if God was looking out for us,” said Mitchell.

Mitchell, the man from the condo and the other firefighter stayed in that room until they got word from command that it was safe to go downstairs.

While talking with Elias just a few hours after this rescue, Mitchell said he just likes doing his job, and it was weird standing in front of a camera.

“It happens so many times and nobody knows about it,” he said.”
Firefighters Find, Save Man in Penthouse During Condo Fire
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Boston firefighter Robert Gover (pictured) was on his way to work when he pulled a man to safety from a Malden house fire. (Stuart Cahill photo)

Boston firefighter Robert Gover (pictured) was on his way to work when he pulled a man to safety from a Malden house fire. (Stuart Cahill photo)

Townie Pride
Friday, on his way in to work, Engine Co.50 firefighter Robert Gover became sidetracked taking in what he first believed was an auto fire. Following his nose, Gover ended up on Side Alpha of a three-story private dwelling in Malden. Noticing the car parked out front, and three floors showing fire, Gover forced entry on Side Charlie and located an occupant on the third floor. After quickly determining no other persons were inside, Gover removed the resident from the fire building.
Quick-thinking Boston Firefighter Saves Malden Man.
Check out Steve Walsh’s coverage of Malden’s 3-alarm house fire.









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Posted by on April 10, 2010 • Filed under: fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighting Operations, Fires, News, Rescues • Tagged: , , ,

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Continuing the Discussion

  1. Morning Lineup – April 12 | Firegeezer linked to this post

    [...] The Backstep Firefighter, Bill Carey has posted a terrific follow-up on the story that you will find very worthwhile reading, I’m sure.  He has an interview with the lady who was saved along with a couple of fresh videos related to the story, and as a bonus he has a rescue story from Boston that got lost because of the overwhelming coverage of the 9-alarm fire.  A Boston jake on his way to work came across a house on fire, stopped and entered a 3-story home that was fully involved, and snatched a victim that he found on a quick search.  It’s a great story.  You’ll find both of those stories on Backstep Firefighter’s posting HERE. [...]

    on April 12, 2010 @ 7:29 am.