Company Officers AssociationMedal 

Captain JOHN E. KEENAN

Ladder Company 38

February 15th, 1992

Box #2955

 46 East 176th St.

The night tour on Valentines Day, 1992 had started out as a normal one for Captain John E. Keenan and the members of Ladder 38.  That was about to change, as the night pressed on toward morning. As people settle in for the night, they become less aware of what is going on around them and are increasingly in peril from unexpected fires. 

Box 2955 was transmitted at 0133 hours on the morning of February 15, and Ladder Company 38 was the second due truck. When they pulled up in front of 446 East 176th St., there was fire showing from three windows on one side of the first floor apartment. Heavy smoke emanating from the two windows under the fire escape, prevented its use.  John knew that they had the responsibility to search the floors above the fire raging in apartment #1. Upon entering the building, John, and the Forcible Entry Team of Firefighter Thomas Pushkal (L-38) and Firefighter Robert Wanner (E-88, detailed to L-38), were met by heavy fire venting out of the fire apartment into the public hall.

 Realizing that this cut off the interior stairs as a means of escape, John ordered the members to remain at the door and warn other companies of his precarious position.   Protecting himself with just his turnout coat, John managed to leap past the flames before a line was in place. He began his search of theupper floors in spite of the danger to his own life and the heavy smoke condition that limited his visibility.Scanning the second floor hallway, John found no one. Returning to the stairway, he vented the hallwaywindows at the half landings in order to gain better visibility. 

As he was breaking the window between the 2nd and 3rd floors, he heard a groaning noise on the 3rd floor landing. He found 66 year old William Grady overcome by smoke. Grady, the occupant of the fire apartment, later related that he had tried to warn tenants on the upper floors, but had been unable to make it back downstairs before collapsing. 

The bulkhead door had been locked, denying him the escape he had hoped for Heavy locks on the bulkhead door, delayed its opening by the roofman.  John, a much decorated veteran, knew that he had to remove Grady before the door was opened and the stairway would become a chimney for the heat from the fire apartment. Lifting him as best as he could, John carried and dragged Grady down the two flights of stairs and past the flames that were still licking out the apartment door. 

Once they were past the flames, John began to resuscitate the victim. EMS was able to stabilize Grady and transport him to Jacobi Hospital, where he was treated for smoke inhalation. If John had not braved the fire, and discover Grady when he did, the victim would have been killed. 

It is for courage and determination in this daring rescue of William Grady, that the FDNY is honored to award the Company Officers Association Medal to Captain John E. Keenan.

Appointed to the FDNY on January 24, 1970. Member of the Emerald Society, Holy Name Society and the Company Officers Association. Cited on 12 previous occasions. Recipient of the Henry Brookman Medal, 1981, the Hugh Bonner Medal, 1985, and the Albert Johnson Medal 1991. Received the Daily News Hero of the Month Award, 1981, Veteran of Foreign Mrs Award, 1981, the New York Telephone Company Firehouse Magazine Award, 1986 and the American Legion Post #54 in 1992. Family member include his brother Capt. Michael Keenan, Div. 7 Resides in the Bronx with his wife Cathy and their children John, Anthony, Nicky and Mark.