Syracuse FF Richard Barone is back to work at Fire Station Number 5. Just last week, he and his partner, Harry Dodge, were completing the roof ventilation of a burning apartment building, but things didn’t go according to plan. "Unbeknownst to us, the attic was full of fire. Usually it’s just full of smoke and we open up the hole like a chimney and it just comes out and we get down. Well, the fire came out and kind of engulfed us," said Barone.
Barone has been a firefighter for about 19 years and he’s been in a lot of difficult situations. "I’ve cut a lot of holes in my career and that’s probably the worst situation I’ve been in with fire coming out of hole. You know, you can’t anticipate some of these things. That’s just what happens in our job," said Barone. Family, not fear, ran through Barone’s mind as he and his partner radioed for help. "My grandkids, my wife. You know, your life passes in front of you for a minute, but then you just have to realize that this is my job and I’ve been in situations sort of like this before," said Barone. Barone says that without the help of his fellow firefighters, he could have been stranded on the roof. "I just really appreciate my guys that helped me get out of that situation.
Because I was pretty much stuck there and without them getting the ladders to me, I wouldn’t have been able to get off that roof," said Barone. Crews were able to help both firefighters out of the building. They were taken to University Hospital. Barone was treated and released Saturday. Dodge was released on Sunday. "Harry is out of hospital, he’s home. He’s weak and has a sore chest, but he should be okay," said Barone. The cause of the fire is still unknown.
By: Allison Lazarz & Richard Barone SYRACUSE, N.Y. —
