As you know, 39-year-old Yonkers Firefighter Patrick Joyce Jr, was killed in the Line of Duty yesterday and 2 other Firefighters were seriously injured as they searched for reported trapped occupants in that early morning house fire.
FF Patrick Joyce Jr., the father of 2 girls and a 16-year veteran of the department, either jumped or fell from the top floor of the burning 3-story, four-family dwelling. The 0100 Hours fire is suspicious because it was fully involved in two locations at the home.
Witnesses claim they saw the fire "explode" inside the tall, narrow vinyl-sided house and watched as the Firefighters jumped for their lives. One stated "It looked like somebody threw a bomb through the window," and "I heard Firefighters screaming."
The injured firefighters – 54-year-old Lt. Joe Murray and 12-year veteran Firefighter William Kanych, 39 – were in serious but stable condition at Jacobi Medical Center in The Bronx, NYC. Both also either jumped or fell from the top floor window but the men are still not well enough to be interviewed by investigators, but rapidly changing and high heat conditions are indicated by numerous sources.
Lt. Murray, who joined the YFD in 1982, was expected to undergo surgery for broken ribs and also has a punctured lung and second-degree burns on his hands. FF Kanych had a broken ankle, cracked vertebrae and burns on his face and neck.
FIREFIGHTER JOYCE FUNERAL DETAILS:
Calling hours for FF Joyce are set for Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. and Monday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at McGrath & Sons, 20 Cedar Street, Bronxville. His funeral is set for Tuesday at 9:45 a.m. at St. Margaret’s Church, 6000 Riverdale Ave. in the Bronx.
