Captain John Vigiano - Ladder 103, Rescue 2, Ladder 176
Awards (-posted by Chief K)
Thomas F. Dougherty Medal awarded to:
Fireman 1st Grade John T. Vigiano Ladder Co. 103
Fire at 468 Berriman Street, Brooklyn. Box 7-5-1918, 2251 hours
December 28, 1968. 2 story Brick, 20 x 40 Class 3 P.D. (Building 3 stories in Rear)
0n arrival of L103, the cellar was fully involved, with an extremely heavy smoke and heat condition throughout the remainder of the building. After the initial size up, the officer in command of L103 requested a full first alarm assignment. Civilians at the scene reported a woman was in the 2nd floor of the building.
Fr. Vigiano had gained access to the roof of the fire building via an adjacent building and had completed preliminary roof ventilation, and was proceeding to ventilate at the rear While carrying out this task he heard a moan from within the building. He immediately lowered himself to the fire escape balcony with a short piece of rope he had been carrying with him. He forced a door to a rear bedroom and made a search, being forced to his hands and knees by the extreme conditions. Approximately 10 feet into the room he found a 65 year old woman in a semi-conscious state lying on the floor near a bed. He removed her to the rear balcony an started mouth to mouth resuscitation. While rendering this aid. Fr. Vigiano collapsed. Subsequently, both he and the victim were removed to the hospital. After initial treatment Fr. Vigiano was released. After returning to quarters to rest, he experienced chest pains, nausea and severe headaches. He was returned to the hospital where he remained overnight for observation It was later disclosed that the victim had a history of tuberculosis and Fr. Vigiano is now being watched to protect him from any possibility of contracting the disease.
This rescue was made under heavy smoke and heat conditions, prior to the use of handlines, and without the protection of a mask. In addition the woman was very heavy, and great exertion was required to effect her rescue by Fr. Vigiano. He showed initiative and determination under arduous circumstances and his aggressiveness undoubtedly saved the life of this person. He acted in the finest traditions of this great department.
..........................................................................
1972 Medal Day Book:
Albert S. Johnston Medal awarded to:
Fireman 1st Grade John T. Vigiano Ladder Co. 103 (now Rescue 2)
Fire at 420 Williams Avenue, Brooklyn. Box 7-5-1720, 2115 hours,
April 9, 1971. 4 story N.F.P., Multiple Dwelling.
Upon arrival at the fire building, members of L103 set out performing their assigned duties. Fire had originated on the 2nd floor and had communicated to 3rd floor via ceiling and flooring. Flames were shooting out of 2nd floor windows and enveloping the fire escape on south side of building. Units attempting to gain access via interior were encountering difficulties due to intense heat and heavy volumes of smoke. No lines had been able-to penetrate and get above the fire. Members on roof were unable to descend fire escape due to flames, heat and smoke.
At this stage, Fireman Vigiano, the chauffeur of L103 and the last to leave the apparatus, noticed a woman at the 3rd floor window in an alley on the south side of the building. He immediately returned to the apparatus and removed a 35' portable ladder, and with the assistance of an auxiliary fireman raised it and placed it alongside the fire escape at the 3rd floor. By this time the woman had disappeared from the window. He quickly climbed the ladder to the 3rd floor balcony where he dashed aver the railing through the smoke and flame and entered the open window where he had seen the woman. Dropping on his stomach he began to crawl through the apartment searching for the woman. He located her in a hallway off the bathroom, in a highly emotional and disoriented state. Dragging and carrying her, he returned to the window. Using his body as a shield from the heat and flames, he got her on the ladder and guided her down to the street. There she told him that her brother was still in the apartment. Although near exhaustion from exertion and the effects of the heat and smoke, Vigianao again climbed to the 3rd floor and despite the worsened conditions, re-entered the apartment to search for the brother.
Crawling through the apartment he finally located the brother in a hallway leading to the interior of the building. He then dragged him through the intense heat and smoke, back to the window. There be carried him out the window to the ladder and then down to the street, again using his body and protective clothing to protect the boy from the heat.
As a result of his actions Fireman Vigiano was later hospitalized and treated for Carbon Monoxide poisoning. His unbelievable courage, in singlehandedly rescuing these two people who were trapped in their apartment, is deserving of the highest praise. His unselfish devotion to duty was of the highest order and in the best traditions of this department.
.........................................................................
1979 Medal Day Book:
Thomas A. Kenny Memorial Medal awarded to:
Lieutenant JOHN T. VlGlANO Rescue Company 2
Fire at 70 Clermont Avenue, Brooklyn
Box 75-385,0100 hours, October 27, 1978
Four story, 20'x40?, Frame Private Dwelling
Arriving at the fire scene, Lieutenant John T. Vigiano and members of R2 observed that fire had full possession of the front bedroom and hall of the 4th floor. Occupants of the dwelling yelled to Lieutenant Vigiano that an elderly woman was trapped upstairs at the attic floor level. R2 members were ordered by the lieutenant to assume the duties of the first arriving ladder company and ascended the stairs to the third floor. He also tried to determine in which room the victim was located. Informed there was no fire escape in the rear of the building, Lieutenant Vigiano requested, via. Handi-Talki, that a roof rope be taken to the roof for an attempted rescue from that point. Moving to the top of the attic stairs with the can man, they encountered severe heat. The door to the fire room had been burnt away. At this moment, Fireman Sullivan dragged a victim to the stairs. Assisting them down the stairs, Fireman Sullivan informed Lieutenant Vigiano that there was another victim in the room.
A second extinguisher was brought up to the fire floor. Lieutenant Vigiano crawled into the back room under the protection of the second extinguisher. Crawling on his stomach, he made his way across the bedroom to the window on the far side. There he discovered the unconscious victim, wedged between the bed and the wall. The room was crowded with furniture, therefore it was difficult to maneuver around the bed. Lieutenant Vigiano was forced to pull the lifeless body up onto the bed and drag her across it onto the floor. Fire had full possession of the front room, interior hall, and was burning across the ceiling of the rear bedroom. Burning paint was I dropping and igniting the mattress in the room.
Lieutenant Vigiano dragged the unconscious and non-breathing, severely burned victim to the stairs. Then other members assisted them down to the third floor. He immediately began mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until a resuscitator was placed in operation.
Lieutenant Vigiano acted in a manner which is in keeping with the highest traditions of the Fire Department. If not for his courageous act, this victim would have perished
...
1981 Medal Day Book:
Thomas A. Kenny Memorial Medal awarded to:
Lieutenant JOHN T. VlGlANO Rescue Company 2
Brooklyn's R2 was returning to its quarters after operating at a fire when the dispatcher announced via the Department radio, that an alarm of fire was being transmitted for a 4 story brick apartment house at 713 Lafayette Avenue. The dispatcher finished his message advising that a full first alarm assignment (3 engines and 2 ladders) would be rolling in to the scene due to the numerous phone calls received at the Communications Center. As he signed off announcing the time at 2125 hrs., Lieutenant John T. Vigiano radioed his units availability since he was only two blocks from the fire scene. "Take it in" came the terse reply. As R2 rolled into the block, members observed a heavy fire condition on the third floor with possible extension to the fourth floor. Instructing his unit to function as the first arriving ladder company, Lieutenant Vigiano raced to the third floor, where a dazed resident informed the rescue officer that people were trapped on the fourth floor.
Fire was now showing at 4 front windows, the roof had not been vented, and without any engine company's at the scene affording the luxury of a hose line to back up his rescue efforts, Lieutenant Vigiano knew he had to act quickly to reach any victims. While donning the facepiece to his mask, he reached the fourth floor landing, where intense smoke and heat drove him to a crawling position. Upon entering the apartment, he crawled down a long hallway, stopping occasionally to listen for cries of help. Half way down the hall, he heard the anguished pleas for rescue. Temporary renovations to the apartment slowed the rescue attempt. After doubling back from the kitchen, he found the opening to the front bedroom just as the victim, Lincoln Dawkins, cried out one more time. Near exhaustion from searching four other rooms prior to locating the victim, Vigiano now had to remove the semi-conscious victim. While dragging him from the apartment, he stopped a few times to administer air from his own mask.
At one point, the victim, barely audible, informed the rescue officer that his mother was in the front of the bedroom. Vigiano took Dawkins to the hallway and headed back to the bedroom in search of the mother. Fire had gained complete control of the thud floor and blew in the windows of the bedroom on the fourth floor, cutting the lieutenant. Fire now was spreading in his locale and an urgent message from Chief James Duffy (B57) advised him that all residents had been accounted for, and ordered a hasty retreat. Fire was now gaining headway on the fourth floor and as Lieutenant Vigiano made his exit, members of Engine Companies 209 and 217 were moving a hoseline into position to extinguish the blaze.
For Mr. Dawkins and the residents on the fourth floor, it was fortunate indeed that R2 was in such close proximity to the building as the fire broke out.
R2 has a long and glorious history of heroism. Lieutenant Vigiano added another remarkable feat to its already outstanding record. It is interesting to note that Lieutenant Vigiano's son, Joseph, was recently awarded one of the Boy Scouts of America highest awards for heroism. The youngster saved three lives last summer in Clearwater, Florida. As young Joseph looks on today, he will watch his father honored for his valiant actions. Whoever first called New York's Firefighters-"The Bravest"-had to be thinking of men like Lieutenant John T. Vigiano of R2.
..................................................John had received the Thomas A. Kenny on two separate Medal Days.
CAPTAIN JOHN T. VIGIANO (NYFD site)
John T. Vigiano is a retired Captain of the New York City Fire Department, with over 38 years of service.
His career started in 1962 with Ladder Company 103 in the East New York - Brownsville section of Brooklyn.
He transferred to Rescue Company 2 for a short period but returned to Ladder 103 until his promotion to Lieutenant in 1976.
After a 6-month period of covering in Far Rockaway, he returned to Brooklyn and to Ladder Company 132 where he stayed
until his transfer to Rescue Company 2 in 1977. He remained in Rescue Company 2 until his promotion to Captain in 1988.
Upon promotion, he was assigned to the Rescue Liaison Unit for nearly a year until his assignment to
Ladder Company 176, "The Tin-House Truck" where is he retired as the Company Commander in May of 1998.
John is a graduate of John Jay College with a Bachelors Degree in Fire Science.
He is also a Certified New York State Instructor who was an Adjunct Instructor to the New York State First Line Supervisors Training Program.
He was also an adjunct instructor for the Captains Management - Training Program for the New York City Fire Department.
In addition to his full time fire career, John also worked for the Suffolk County Fire Training Academy for over 14 years.
Where he designed and wrote the Heavy Rescue Program. He retired from the County in 1998.
He has authored many articles for the various trade magazines such as Firehouse, Fire Engineering and Fire Command.
He has lectured at the Firehouse Conference in Baltimore in 1998 and FDIC in Indiana this year.
John has been lecturing to many departments for over twenty years.
He is the director of Fire Mark Consultants; a company that specializes in fire related seminars.
Subject: Accountibility
By: Captain John Vigiano (Ret)
There is a riding list. The officer on duty writes this up at the
start of each tour (shift). It lists the following info:
a) Members riding position, eg. where he/she is seated on the apparatus.
b) Members assignment, eg. forcible entry, roor, chauffeur, etc.
c) Members group #. eg., the assigned group on the units roster
d) The SCBA assigned to that member for the tour.
This list is approx 3" x 4" and is made out in duplicate. The original
is placed on the dash board of the apparatus and the duplicate is carried
by the officer.
In the event of a disaster (building collapse, flash over, etc) where members are lost
or unaccounted for the Inicident Commander will have each officer conduct a roll call to
account for his/her members, using his copy of the riding list. This is important,
since there are times when the officer does not know the members he/she is
working with. It could be an officer just assigned for the tour.
If however, the officer is one of the missing, then the list is removed
from that members apparatus, and the roll call conducted....hence the two
copies.
Captain John Vigiano Ladder 176 (Ret.)
Subject: Rapid Intervention Crews ( F. A. S. T. TRUCK )
By: Captain John Vigiano (Ret)
I was asked to send you some info on Rapid Intervention Crews. Here in NYC,
we refer to them as F. A. S. T. units. (firefighter assist search team).
Other areas of the New York, the term used is Rapid Intervention Teams. They
are all the same and have the same purpose; to aide fire units or fire
personnel in trouble.
I have recently reitired (May 1998) from the New York City Fire Department. I
spent the last 36 years doing what I loved....riding a fire truck and going to
fires.
A few years ago, the FDNY, went through a tough time. Too many members were
injured and killed in a short periord of time. The think tank went into
overdrive and soem pretty smart people came up with ideas to curb this
problem.
Being a firefighter, you know, we can not change fate, but we can make
adjustments to training and education to ensure our people have help when they
need it. Hence, the F.A.S.T. concept was initiated.
Here is a copy of my former units policy concerning the F.A.S.T. TRUCK
(Firefighter Assist and Search Team)
LADDER COMPANY 176 POLICY
This unit is an additional ladder company above the ladder companies assigned
on the second alarm.
Upon arrival, the FAST truck will report to the Incident Commander at the
Command Post; advise the IC that "they are the FAST TRUCK", and follow his
direction.
As per the AUC 273 addendum #155 and ABC 5-88, all members will be equipped as
follows:
SCBA WITH PASS ALARMS
SEARCH ROPE
LIFESAVING ROPE / LIFE BELT
RABBIT TOOL WITH FORCIBLE ENTRY TOOLS
"NORMAL" TOOL ASSIGNMENT WITH ROOF SAW.
GENERAL DUTIES:
Listen to HT (Hand held portable radio) transmissions while responding and
walking to the CP.
Look at the fire conditions, and discuss what you see.
Anticipate where we would go and how we would get there....ladders, fire-
escapes, breaching a wall....if the situation turns to s_ _ t
Take note of the units working ; their unit numbers; they may be re-located
units.
Check out what apparatus we would place our equipment if call to work as a
relief unit or if equipment is not necessary for operation.
ANTICIPATE PROBLEMS - HAVE A REACTION PLAN
SPECIFIC DUTIES:
(Note: FDNY we have a minimum of an Officer and 5 members)
A. INSIDE TEAM: ( Officer / Can / Forcible Entry)
FIRE ESCAPES:
Are they overcrowded ?
Will interior units be using them ?
Will that be the way to get into the building quickly ?
PORTABLE LADDERS:
Are they in place ?
Are additional ladders necessary ?
B CHAUFFEUR:
Go to the Aerial / Tower ladder in front of fire building and check it
out.
Get familiar with the controls, and make sure it is ready to be used.
Stay at the turntable if the assigned chauffeur is not there.
If assigned chauffeur is there, stay at the pedestal in case the assigned
chauffeur is called into the building by his officer.
C. OUTSIDE TEAM (OVM / ROOFMAN)
Check out the perimeter of the building....
Take note of any shafts, fences or fire-escapes
Note any obstacles or problems the unit may encounter.
Report back to Unit Officer in front of building or at CP
REMEMBER THIS IS A SIZE UP ONLY.
ANTICIPATE PROBLEMS - HAVE A REACTION PLAN
THIS IS A UNIT OPERATION, NOT AN INDIVIDUAL ONE
RIP.
