New York mourns a singular hero – a man who served the city as both a cop and a firefighter.
FDNY Lt. John H. Martinson – who served for four years with the NYPD – died of smoke inhalation and burns Thursday night while battling a high-rise blaze in Crown Heights.
He leaves a pregnant wife and a 22-month-old son.
Adding to the tragedy, the fire might not have spread as quickly had residents fleeing the building where the blaze started shut the door behind them, as the FDNY constantly urges the public to do.
Martinson’s death is the first for the FDNY since last August’s blaze at the Deutsche Bank building. Happily for New Yorkers, the Bravest are not deterred by such tragedies. They deal with danger every day, putting their own safety aside out of a greater concern for the lives of their fellow citizens.
Lt. Martinson did that for four years as a cop on the streets of Staten Island – and then another 14 years as a firefighter at a Flatbush firehouse.
New Yorkers salute his service, praise his sacrifice and offer their prayers and condolences to his family.