A firefighter who miraculously survived a 40-foot fall down a building shaft while battling a 6-alarm blaze walked out of Harlem Hospital Center on Wednesday to claps and cheers from fellow FDNY members.
Chris Zambrzycki of Engine 58 in Harlem was among more than 200 firefighters and paramedics who responded to a roaring blaze inside a second-floor apartment in a six-story building on W. 145th St. near Broadway around 2:45 p.m. Nov 1.
“I want to thank the FDNY for being a true family,” Zambrzycki said. “Thank all the companies that were able to get me so quickly and get me out of that situation. Thank you to the rescue medics for taking care of me to the hospital, my company, Engine 58/Ladder 26, for being there every minute I needed and keeping me fed in this hospital — and I want to thank the hospital who were great to me.”
Besides Zambrzycki, who was rushed to the hospital after his fall, five building residents and three other firefighters were treated for minor injuries from the fire.
FDNY fire marshals determined the cause of the blaze was a power cord for a lamp. Authorities urged New Yorkers via X to take precautions in inspecting electrical appliances, cords, outlets for damage as well as not covering cords under rugs.
Bobby Dillard, who witnessed the blaze from his apartment across the street, said the flames appeared to die before suddenly reigniting.
“It started on the second floor. It blew out the windows. It died down but then it flared up again. It went from the 3rd to the 4th floor. The firefighters looked back and it was burning like it had just started,” Dillard said. “Then it went up through the other floors and blew out the roof.”
