NIOSH REPORT: FDNY FIRE OFFICER LINE OF DUTY DEATH
July 16, 2016
On July 05, 2014, 40-year-old FDNY Lieutenant Gordon “Matt” Ambelas was overcome by extreme fire conditions while attempting to find the seat of the fire. Ambelas, 40, left behind a wife, Nanette, and two young daughters, Gina and Gabby, went into cardiac arrest after suffering smoke inhalation and third-degree burns on his head.
The 14-year FDNY veteran had been promoted to lieutenant just 10 months ago.
The fire was located in the bedroom of a 500-square-foot apartment on the 19th floor of a 21-story residential apartment building. The apartment was extremely cluttered with personal possessions stacked high against all walls, making travel through the apartment difficult. The Lieutenant and his Ladder 119 crew forced the door to the fire apartment and entered to search for the seat of the fire. The Engine 211 lieutenant and fire fighter followed them into the apartment with a charged hoseline.
Due to the cluttered conditions, which limited their mobility, crews had trouble locating the seat of the fire. Visibility was limited due to the thick, optically-dense smoke. The conditions inside the apartment rapidly deteriorated, forcing both crews to withdraw to the hallway. The Engine 211 lieutenant radioed a Mayday and stated he had fire behind him.
All fire fighters in the apartment were able to withdraw except for the Ladder 119 lieutenant. Engine 211 re-entered the apartment and extinguished the fire. A fire fighter reported hearing a PASS device in the direction of the bedroom. The Ladder 119 lieutenant was found a short time later, unresponsive and with his facepiece dislodged from his face.
He was immediately transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. RIP.
REPORT: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/pdfs/face201414.pdf
