Firefighter Dies Battling a High-rise Blaze
CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Tragedy befell FDNY’s Engine Company 249, when a member of their company, Lt. John H. Martinson, an 18 year veteran collapsed while climbing the stairs to the 14th floor of the Ebbets Field housing complex where a fire was raging in apartment there.
Members of Engine Co. 249 were responding to the calls of a woman trapped along with her children on the balcony of her apartment. Lt. Martinson collapsed on the 13th floor after suffering a heart attack while climbing the stairs.
More pictures in the Extended Article.
At around 7:15 in the evening a number of calls came in reporting heavy smoke in 1700 Bedford Avenue, the Ebbets Field Housing Complex located between Crown Street and Sullivan Place, when firefighters arrived on scene they immediately transmitted a High-rise blaze and called for full backup.
Well over 100 firefighters were assigned and responded to the fire, and after a long and tiring battle they finally had the fire under control.
A number of other firefighters and residents suffered various injuries form the blaze but none were life threatening.
CrownHeights.info would like to express our condolences to the wife, child and family of Lt. Martinson and fellow firefighters.
Shaya Gutleizer
My condolences to the family of Lt. Martinson and to the brave Fire Fighters of Engine 249 and ladder 113.
He was a true hero
FD
The fire lieutenant, Lt. John H. Martinson, of Engine Company 249 of Brooklyn, died after a full-scale assault on the 14th floor of the 25-story apartment building at 1700 Bedford Avenue, fire officials said.
Lieutenant Martinson was found unconscious on the floor about 10 feet inside the apartment where the blaze started, the officials said. He was found with his mask off, and was carried out of the building by fellow firefighters. The apartment was empty, officials said. It was not immediately clear what caused Lieutenant Martinson’s death, but firefighters struggled all evening with choking and blinding smoke. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but is not believed to be suspicious, a fire official said.
RIP
Resident
I hope the CHJCC, on behalf of the Jewish residents of CH, makes some kind of acknowledgement to both the NYFD & the family of Lt. Martinson. He & his colleagues have always shown us first-class service & at times like this, the Jewish community should show its appreciation & respect.
Engine Company 249 & ladder 113
we would like to thank the 2 rabbis of SHOMRIM crown heights division and the hospital chaplain for all the support,food and drink they brought to us in this very tough time, Lieutenant Martinson is looking down from above and sees the work you did for us in his memory, thank you
Zalmy
Lt. Martinson,
Thank you for your brave service to our community.
Rest in peace.
Thank you to all of New York’s Bravest for walking through fire to keep us safe.
Another Brother
Another tragic loss of a true local hero and public servant. Thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Martinson, their toddler, and unborn child, as well as the members of Engine Co. 249, Ladder Co. 123 (the FAST company), and all the members of FDNY who operated at this fire or knew Lt. Martinson.
Rest easy Brother. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Neighbors, please take a moment to thank our firefighters, EMT’s and police officers for all they do to protect Crown Heights and the rest of NYC. We so often take their public service for granted.
ceo
his memory should guide his family and friends to continue on in life to be strong and be the best they can be, just as I’m sure this great man was.
I hope the family knows that because the memories of him were of a strong and wonderful man, that he lives on through that.
sorry to say that I wonder if he had any medical testing done recently. Checkups and proper diet help keep the body healthy. All us men need that and everyone.
out-of-towner
oy, such a tragedy.
G-d bless the brave men and women of the FDNY and NYPD.
supporter of nyfd
to nyfd you guys are amazing and the bravest going to battle were people would run away from you guys are the hardest working city emergency service department my heart goes out to lt waking up in the morning thinking how he can save lives and responding to wild fire thinking he may not come out and does it anyway not because of a job because he loves to be fire fighter and to save lifes in danger times may your soul rest in peace finaly the police department did something by blocking off the streets i think the 71 should learn and take lesson from nyfd from their bravory caring and their amazing responce and their perfetionalsim may g-d watch over the fire department
Shaya Gutleizer
Lt. John H. Martinson was appointed to the FDNY May 9 1993 and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in Dec ’02. Over the course of his career he worked on ladder 23 and engines 204, 80 and of course 249. In 1996 while working on engine 80 he received a unit citation. He is survived by his wife Jessica, one year old son John Patrick and his extended family at the FDNY. Lt. John H. Martinson is the 1138 member to make the supreme sacrifice in the departments 144 year history.
May God bless and keep the brave members of the FDNY safe..
Keith Redlin
To the members of E249/L113 our sincerest condolences on your loss. We mourn your loss. Please convey our condolences to his wife and family. RIP brother.
Brown City Fire Rescue
Brown City, Michigan.
Retired Brother
Another valiant brother goes down in service to the citizens of NYC.R.I.P. Condolances to the men he worked with. Huge loss.Gone but never forgotten.
To his wife and children a hero lost.
Heartfelt condolances.
Please post the fund particulars.