FDNY- More on FF Mike Shepherd

[Share]Published: March 27, 2015 Off-Duty FDNY Firefighter First On-Scene in East Village Fire engulfed two buildings in the East Village On Thursday, March 26, Firefighter Mike Shepherd of Squad 41 in the Bronx was off-duty in the East Village when he heard a large boom. Shepherd was having lunch at a restaurant on East 7th Street, when got up to help a couple take their photograph on their smartphone. “Man, that wasn’t a manhole - it was too loud,” said Shepherd and ran to the perceived source on2nd Avenue, where he assessed the situation. Shepherd approached 121 2nd Avenue and seeing a frightened woman on the first floor fire escape, he coached her into dropping the ladder. The ladder finally dropped and she was assisted down by another bystander. With the fire escape now accessible, Shepherd moved from floor to floor performing quick searches for people trapped within their apartments. He was not finding anyone inside the well-maintained apartments and thought that they all must luckily be at work. Finally he heard screaming from the street that the fire was growing. Shepherd began to feel the heat beneath him. He had not found anyone inside and was not wearing any of his protective bunker gear, so he returned outdoors and descended the fire escape. On the street, the first thing he saw was Engine Company 33 stretching a hoseline, preparing to deliver water to the fire. Shepherd screamed to the Firefighter in front - whom he recognized form Probationary Firefighter School - telling him from where the fire was coming. Firefighter Mike Shepherd of Squad 41 with the media Shepherd continued towards the Ladder Company down the street, and told the officer that he had performed primary searches before proceeding to the Chiefs on-scene. Choosing to stay, he began helping arriving units stretch hoselines and raise ladders. He spoke with restaurant workers and began ascertaining whose whereabouts may be unknown, reporting to Fire Marshals and NYPD what he had been told. As the first building began to collapse, Shepherd withdrew with the others – helping them remove their gear from the collapse zone. But, as the buildings became engulfed in flames he was unable to assist any further without the appropriate gear.  “You know you’re scared sometimes, but you do it anyway,” Shepherd said about responding while off-duty. “A few people ran away, but many ran to it - not from it.”

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