2018 Dr. Harry M. Archer Medal Presented by NYSHFCA
Firefighter James P. Lee, Jr.
Rescue 1
October 27, 2016, 0326 hours, Box 66-1219, Manhattan
Appointed to the FDNY on May 4, 2003. Previously assigned to Engine 45 and Ladder 147. Since promoted
to Lieutenant and assigned to Battalion 20. Recipient of the James Gordon Bennett Medal/NYS Honorary Fire
Chiefs Association Medal, four Unit Citations, Firehouse Magazine Michael O’McNamee Award of Valor and the
Fire Engineering Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award for 2017. Member of the Emerald Society, Honor Legion
and the Pipes and Drums (former Pipe Major, 2015-2016). Holds a BA degree in Criminal Justice/Criminology
from the University of Maryland. Resides in the Bronx with his wife, Erin, and their daughter, Fiona, and sons,
Callum and Seamus.
For the night tour of October 27, 2016, FF James P. Lee, Jr., Rescue 1, was assigned the roof position. At approximately 0330 hours, the company was assigned to a fire in a five-story multiple dwelling. FF Lee made his way to the roof via exposure #2 and observed fire blowing out of the shaft, with the roof and bulkhead of exposure #4 on fire. Conditions were deteriorating when FF Lee heard a radio report from Rescue 1’s chauffeur, FF Francis Rush. A civilian had shown at a top-floor window. FF Rush told the elderly male to stay in the window because help was on the way. FF radioed FF Lee, gave him the location of the trapped man and said a lifesaving rope rescue (LSR) would be required. FF Lee established contact with the victim, as heavy smoke vented out over the man’s head. He told him to stay at the window. He radioed the Battalion Chief that there was a victim trapped and a LSR rescue was being set up. Inside the fire building, interior hose-lines could not make it past the second floor due to the extreme fire conditions, making any attempt to reach the victim from the interior impossible.
Moving in line with the victim, FF Lee dumped the LSR bag and handed the hook off to Ladder 43’s chauffeur, FF Andrew Hawkins, who tied the rope off to a short chimney. FF Lee ran the rope the fence and back over the top where he attached it to his harness. Unbearable conditions forced the victim to disappear from the window a few times. Firefighter Rush told the man to stay at the
window. The victim stated he was within seconds of jumping. Once FF Hawkins was anchored to the chimney and took his four wraps on his rappel hook, FF Lee climbed over the fence
and positioned himself to be lowered to the trapped victim. The victim’s yells served as a beacon for FF Lee, who operated in zero visibility. Firefighter Rush directed FF Lee to the victim’s window.
The man was crouched below the windowsill with fire lapping out over his head. Using all his strength, FF Lee reached into the window and got one arm around the victim’s back and one under his
knees. The man could not hold onto FF Lee due to cuts and burns to his hands and arms. While not the conventional way in which a victim is removed when performing this evolution, FF Lee to save this victim from certain death. Once the victim cleared the window, the momentum rotated FF Lee 180 degrees; his back was against the building. FF Rush ordered the resumption of FF Lee and victim. The rescuer used his legs to kick off the building to avoid being hung up on parts of the rear wall, while cradling the weight of the man in his arms. The LSR began to burn as Firefighter and victim reached the third floor. When they reached the ground safely, the LSR burned through and fell to the ground. Firefighters Lee and Rush carried the man through exposure #4 to the front of the fire building where he was handed off to EMS personnel.
For his extraordinary efforts and under extreme personal risk, FF James P. Lee, Jr., is awarded the Dr. A fire on October 27, 2016, quickly tore through the upper floors of Harry M. Archer Medal.—AP
a five-story multiple dwelling in Manhattan. Photo by Bill Tompkins
Fire Department, City of New York • Medal Day 2018