STEUBEN MEDAL 2025

The 2025 Steuben Association Medal will be awarded to Lieutenant Kurtis Niemczyk of Ladder 159 on Wednesday June 4th, 2025 at City Hall.

(We await his Steuben Medal Picture-please check back soon)

His story is as follows:

 On January 23rd, 2024, at 2116 hours, TL-159 received a 1st due phone alarm for smoke at Brooklyn box 3137, a 7-story multiple dwelling located at 1275 East 51st Street. On arrival, building security notified TL-159’s inside team, compromised of Lt. Kurtis Niemczyk, Irons FF Thomas Kelly, and Can FF Brian Zwolinski, of asmoke condition in the 2nd floor hallway of the A-wing. Lt. Niemczyk and his inside team made their way to the 2nd floor and encountered a medium smoke condition in the hallway from an unknown apartment. Lt Niemczyk felt the doors for heat and used his thermal imaging camera to locate the fire apartment door. He then received a report was from L-174 OV (2nd due truck) that “someone ishanging out the window on the #2 side of the 2ndfloor.” As FF Kelly & FF Zwolinski began forcingthe fire apartment door, Lt Niemczyk donned his face piece and prepared to enter the fire apartment. Lt Niemczyk was aware that E323 faced a challenging and lengthy hose stretch. But based on L174’s report, he knew time was of the essence, and he entered the fire apartment without the protection of a hoseline. Immediately upon entering the apartment, Lt. Niemczyk heard the victim’s cries for help and homed in on his location. With no line in place, high-heat, and deteriorating conditions, Lt. Niemczyk was undeterred, and he crawled past the fire to get to the window where the victim was desperately trying to survive.  The victim became entangled on the window’s child gate while attempting to self-evacuate and was precariously hanging by his pants. With the victim badly burned, and the fire now cutting off access to the interior stairs, Lt. Niemczyk knew that bringing the victim back through the fire apartment was not an option.  With heavy fire now venting out the window and over both of their heads, Lt. Niemczyk realized the only way the victim had a chance to survive was if he draped his body over the victim and became a human heat shield. It was at this point that TL-159 OV FF Kris Callaghan and L-174 OV FF James Sullivan, placed portable ladders to the window where the victim was dangling. As both OV firefighters worked on freeing the victim from the child gate, Lt Niemczyk felt he was “burning up” while shielding the victim and called for FF Zwolinski to use his extinguisher in an attempt to control the flames. The victim was quickly and successfully disentangled, and lowered via a portable ladder by FF Callaghan, who transferred patient care to Engine 309 to perform life-saving CFR duties while awaiting EMS. With fire conditions worsening in the fire apartment, Lt Niemczyk continued his search of the fire apartment and was met by the 1st due nozzle team of Engine 323. Lt Niemczyk directed the nozzle team of Engine 323 to the seat of the firefor extinguishment. After the fire darkened down, Lt Niemczyk felt a burning sensation radiating uphis back, to his neck and right ear. FF Zwolinski also noted burning to his right ear. Lt Niemczyk and & FF Zwolinski were both transported via EMS ambulance to Ocean Breeze Burn Center in Staten Island with burns to their back, neck and ears.

[The FDNY Steuben Association awards its Medal every two years, in honor of General Frederick Wilhelm Von Steuben. First awarded in 1967. Endowed by the Fire Dept. Steuben Association Charities Inc.]