The Long Beach Fire 2016

This incident occurred at 3 AM on a Wednesday morning. in July 2010. The fireman had gone to work at 9 AM on Monday morning and had never gone home since. He had worked for 40 straight hours. He was the only firefighter on duty at that firehouse and had to depend on 3volunteers showing up. He was not supposed to take out a fire engine with less than 4 people on it. He was not supposed to go into a fire alone and he was not supposed to go into a fire without water protection. He was 36 years old and a Fireman since he was 18.Many people will never forget that night. By the time the fire was brought under control over 50 firefighters had participated and the location was swarming with City officials and reporters from newspapers, radio stations, and a TV station.

Long Beach Fire by Tony Fallon ©

There is a fire truck out on Long Island noted for its reach

It is owned by the Fire Department of the City of Long Beach.

There is also a fireman there who has brought his Department great fame

His parents come from Connaught; in Ireland, Anthony is his name.

The dreaded call came in at three o'clock in the middle of the night

Having worked for two whole days already this was no time for fright.

Working frantically to be properly dressed his equipment he strapped.

Then came another message over the radio there were some people trapped

Not enough firemen showed up to form a crew he was treading on quicksand

And throwing caution to the wind he took out a truck that was undermanned.

When he got to the address he had been given the tension increased

There was no fire in the West it must be four blocks away over in the East.

Without stopping for any instructions he raced to this new address.

With the pedal to the metal, he prayed he had made the correct guess.

He brought this huge monster to rest and from the cab, he quickly hopped

When he saw this raging fire ahead of him his heart nearly stopped

No other trucks or firemen had arrived there were no water hoses in place

The rules said not to go into this fire alone there would be no disgrace

But the littlest fireman in the City who spent many summer days in Athlone

Shouted to the others "connect the hoses to the hydrants I'm going in alone"

Minutes late he reappeared to cheers from neighbors for he had saved Maxwell

But he turned very quickly and disappeared once more into the bowels of hell.

Outside his partners, Antonio and Hadrick were frantic trying to get him water

Inside he was thinking I must keep going it could be someone’s wife or daughter

On hands and knees, he made his way through the hot and hungry flames

And making a lot of progress towards the rear he came upon two door frames

He was losing energy from the long hours now he had to make the right choice

It was no good shouting for survivors for the flame would muffle his voice

With the linoleum and carpet melting all around him like a river of hot tar

He ignored the left door and decided on the one to his right which was slightly ajar

The room was filled with thick black smoke and he came upon an empty bed,

The manuals he read in firefighter’s school told of what very likely lay ahead

Outside firemen were arriving by the second and they had set up a makeshift command

There was great concern for the fireman inside and his rescue was being planned

Still crawling on all fours inside he found an unconscious woman on the floor

He would have to pull or carry her through the flames for there was no back door.

Now he found his second wind he was elated that he had found her still alive

If he could get her out quickly without injury perhaps she would survive.

Outside the old timers were working to their limits to get water on this fire

They knew he had been in there far too long and his situation must be dire

Antonio and Hedrick were quickly prepped to go in and bring out their mate

But told if dangerous conditions existed inside they must immediately evacuate

Inside in the dark interior, they spotted two dim figures coming like shadows

One pulling the other and being badly impeded by a wildly bucking water hose

Antonio took the woman Hendric his mate, and when everyone was safe joyful tears were cried.

For because of the bravery of Anthony and Long Beach firemen that day no one died.

This unlikely trio an Afro-American a Puerto Rican and the man of proud Irish stock

Were heroes to the residents of Long Beach and beyond and the talk of every block.

Their names along with Maxwell and his mother Glenna are written in history’s pages

And will be read about and commented on for generations by both wise men and sages

Anthony is the first man with Mayo and Roscommon parentage to proudly wear fire gear

And also the first to receive the silver medal for heroism and be "Man of the Year"

Postscript Anthony has since been promoted to Lieutenant and I’m very proud to say he’s my son.