“When we pulled up we had three people straddling the window sill. Firefighter Christian Nielsen and I agreed that setting up a portable ladder was the quickest route into the apartment, so I grabbed the 35-foot ladder off the rig and got it in place. I calmed the patients down, and helped them climb down the ladder one at a time,” says FDNY Firefighter Timothy Brunton, Ladder 157, who along with Lieutenant Bryan Cowan, Firefighters Patrick Rooney, and Brandon Weekes performed multiple simultaneous rescues at different locations in the fire building yesterday at East 26 Street in Brooklyn. Firefighter Rooney says, “The public hallway on the third floor was blacked out with smoke. I crawled down the hallway to find the fire apartment and immediately encountered two patients. I transmitted a 10-45 (a signal that is given immediately upon the discovery of a patient with fire-related injuries) and Lieutenant Cowan and Firefighter Weekes carried both patients downstairs to the lobby, where they received medical attention. I continued to make my way down and into the fire apartment to locate the fire. The Engine made their way up with the line very quickly and they were able to advance in and knock the fire down.” The patients were transported to local hospitals. Fire Marshals determined that the fire was accidental, caused by electrical outlet failure.