Fire claimed the life of a Buffalo woman but a pair of Buffalo firefighters gave the victim a fighting chance by putting their own safety on the line to pull her from the burning home.
The fire alarm sounded on March 1, 2005. A house was fully involved in flames on Eastwood Place in Buffalo. Arriving at the scene Firefighters John Relosky and Tom Smolarek learned someone was trapped inside the two-story house.
Fire was blocking the normal building entrances. Relosky and another firefighter climbed though a rear window beyond the fire, without the protection of hose lines. Relosky and Smolarek met in the hallway of the bedroom then proceeded to search the bathroom. Terry Hamner was unconscious on the bathroom floor. With fire and smoke at the front of the house, Relosky and Smolarek decided to take the woman out the rear bedroom. Smolarek took out the rear bedroom window and jumped to the ground. Relosky handed the victim to Smolarek who then carried the woman around front. The woman was in full cardiac arrest when handed off to emergency medical personnel at the site and was revived at the hospital.
The actions of Smolarek and Relosky gave the victim a fighting chance for survival but the 40-year-old woman ultimately died of severe smoke inhalation.
The 100 Club of Buffalo recognizes Firefighters John Relosky and Thomas Smolarek for their heroic action on March 1, 2005.
