Mayor Bloomberg and FDNY present NYSHFCA Medal 2008
FIRE DEPARTMENT, CITY OF NEW YORK MEDAL DAY 2008
Awarded to: LIEUTENANT JAMES F. CONGEMA
Battalion 19 (assigned), Ladder Company 41 (detailed)
FIRE CALL: March 23, 2007, 0138 hours, Box 75-3205, 1717 Unionport Road, Bronx
Appointed to the FDNY on February 8, 1998. Previously assigned to Engine 231 and Ladder 120. Member of the Columbia Association and the Emerald and Holy Name Societies. Holds a BBA degree in accounting from Hofstra University. Cited for bravery on two previous occasions. Resides in Smithtown, Long Island, with his wife, Deanne, and their children, Emily, Ashley and newborn son, Andrew James.
On the fire floor, the success of operations is, to a great extent, determined by the ability of the company Officer to lead and motivate his/her Firefighters. A good Officer leads by example and does not lead from behind. It was just such an Officer who led Ladder 41 in the early morning hours on March 23, 2007. At 0138 hours, Ladder 41 responded first-due to Box 3205, a reported fire in a two-story multiple dwelling. Immediately on arrival, a 10-75 was transmitted for a fire on the first floor. Per FDNY’s standard operating procedures, an additional engine and truck were called because of the window bars on all the first-floor windows. Lieutenant James Congema and his forcible entry team–FF Robert Watts with the extinguisher and FF Ronilo Fuentes with the irons–proceeded down the smoke-filled hallway to the fire apartment. Lieutenant Congema ordered his forcible entry team to force the locked door. Entering the apartment, the Officer was confronted….FULL STORY