Off-Duty FDNY Firefighter Saves Staten Island Couple Trapped in House Fire

It was an end to Christmas that he never expected. Off-duty Firefighter Steven Carl from Ladder 81 was driving home on Staten Island with his family on Dec. 25, when he spotted a house fire and was able to rescue two people and a cat trapped by the flames.

“Those people were in a bad spot and I’m just was glad I was able to help,” he said.

At 11:47 p.m., Firefighter Carl and his family were driving home from his parents’ house when he said he saw a home on fire.

“I saw the flames from a block away,” he said.

He pulled around the corner, onto Atlantic Avenue, and was met by a woman with burns on her face screaming that her babies were inside.

Firefighter Carl said he could not get in through the front door due to the smoke and fire, so he ran to the back. There, he saw an elderly couple standing on a tiny balcony on the second floor. The woman had burns and the man had multiple cuts.

He quickly scanned the backyard and found a ladder. He put it up to the home and supported their bodyweight with his chest as he walked them down, the man also handed him a 20-year-old cat that he carried to safety.

He said he asked them if there were children in the house and the couple said the “babies” to which the woman referred were two dogs, one of which was rescued by responding firefighters.

The victims were transported by EMS members to Staten Island North Hospital.

“I’m really happy everything worked out for the best,” he said.

FDNY fire marshals determined the fire was caused by lights igniting the family’s Christmas tree.