(MINEOLA, N.Y.) – Prior to the start of the Wednesday, April 23 meeting of the Nassau County Legislature, Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D – Plainview) honored the men and women of the Plainview Volunteer Fire Department for their Herculean efforts to save and evacuate residents from the devastating Harmon Shepherd Hill apartment fire during the early morning hours of Feb. 18, 2024.
Deputy Minority Leader Drucker presented Nassau County Legislature Citations to Plainview FD Chief of Department, Andrew Cohen; Ex-Chief, Peter Mayrose; Ex-Chief, Erik Rivera; Ex-Captain, Alfred Mertz and Firefighters, Brandon Cohen; Lance Kozlovsky and Dylan Harris.
Plainview firefighters rushed to the scene after the fire broke out in a second-story apartment at around 5 a.m. As then-Plainview First Assistant Chief Andrew Cohen banged on doors at the Harmon Shepherd Hill apartments from a blaze during the early morning hours of Feb. 18, 2024, his radio stopped working – yet he persisted with his rescue efforts.
While he and Rivera carried a resident to safety, Brandon Cohen and Harris together commanded a hose line as debris collapsed around them, which staved off the fire long enough for his father to escape.
Once the blaze was brought somewhat under control, Plainview firefighters re-entered the building with mutual aid from the Hicksville Fire Department to complete their rescue efforts. While two residents of the complex perished in the blaze, the heroic efforts of that morning saved the lives of more than a dozen people.
“When I heard all the sirens and received the notification on my phone, I drove over to lend a hand in any way that I could – and what took place was amazing,” Deputy Minority Leader Drucker said. “Without hesitation, these men rushed into this apartment complex, which was engulfed in flames and on the verge of collapse, and saved dozens of residents’ lives. It was truly a team effort – and if you asked these gentlemen, they would tell you this was simply the call of duty. But I can assure you, gentlemen: Your willingness to put yourself at risk in such a profound way for the sake of your neighbors is beyond commendable.”
PHOTO CREDITS – Photos by Peter M. Budraitis