West Hempstead Fire Chief Honored For Bravery During Apartment Blaze

When a fire trapped two women inside a Hempstead apartment building last May, four local heroes risked their lives to rescue them from the blaze. Among them was West Hempstead Fire Chief Jason LaCombe.

As flames raged from the third floor apartment, Lacombe and three volunteer firefighters from Hempstead made their way up the burning building located on Terrace Avenue on May 5, 2011.  Without the protection of a hose line, they risked their lives in search of two women who they learned were trapped inside.

One woman was quickly located by the doorway and was removed to an ambulance in the street. As conditions worsened, firefighters conducted a systematic search to locate the second resident. It was then that LaCombe and three Hempstead firemen - Conner Gerahty,  Matt Taylor and Kevin Rugg - finally found the woman in her bedroom. CPR was initiated and she was removed to EMS personnel outside the building and then transported to the Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow.

These four men were honored Thursday evening at Town Hall in Hempstead with the Town of Hempstead Firematic Award. A standing room only audience of friends, family and firefighters was on hand to congratulate these men for their brave actions.