Citations for a technical rope rescue on the new Tappan Zee Bridge and two Life Saving Awards were presented to Hartsdale Firefighters at the annual awards ceremony prior to the monthly commissioner’s meeting, on Oct. 9, 2017.

The first Life Saving Award presented that evening was for an EMS call almost four years ago. On January 24, 2013, Engine 170, with Captain John O’Reilly and Firefighters Frank Musorrafiti and Jeff Argow responded within two minutes of receiving the alarm to find a woman slumped over a bench in cardiac arrest. They immediately started CPR and administered oxygen. Greenburgh Police arrived eight minutes later and started advanced life support. The patient was eventually transported to White Plains Hospital, and, at the time, the outcome of the patient was unknown.

On December 21, 2016,while treating an elderly female for difficulty breathing at the same address, it was learned, from the daughter of the patient being treated, that it was the same person HFD had revived outside the building three years ago.

The second Life Saving Award presented that evening went to Captain Chip Nanko and Firefighters Paul Liberatore, John Kenny, and Brian Morris of Engine 170. While standing by at Fairview Fire Department Headquarters on Jan. 4, 2017, as Fairview responded to a structure fire, Engine 170 was dispatched to a man with difficulty breathing. Upon arrival, they found the patient not breathing and with no pulse. They immediately started CPR. A GPD paramedic started advanced life support and eventually the patient regained a pulse and started breathing. The crew assisted in transferring the patient into the ambulance for transport to the hospital.

Class 3 and 4 Citations were awarded to members of HFD operating in their capacity as members of Squad 6 of the Westchester Special Operations Task Force. In the early afternoon on April 17, 2017 they were dispatched to the new Tappan Zee Bridge for a technical rope rescue, of an injured construction worker, located below the roadway on a catwalk/platform.

Deputy Chief F.J. Spinelli, Captains Peter Aquilino and Timothy Mentrasti and Firefighters Douglas Palmesi, Brian Farrell, Frank LaCalamita, Erick Vandenberge, and Christopher Mentrasti each received a Class 4 Citation for assisting in the rescue operation.

Firefighter Mark Kane received a Class 3 Citation for his actions that day, donning a rescue harness and descending down under the bridge, to treat the injured worker and coordinate raising him back to the roadway surface. A highpoint with a change of direction was established off a tower ladder. The patient was raised via rope system and turned over to EMS.

Awards Photos by Alan Zale