Two elite NYPD cops rescue two from burning Queens home
Two heroic NYPD officers spotted a fire in a Queens building Wednesday morning and leapt into action, busting down doors and dousing flames while searching for victims — with one telling The Post: 'It's in our blood.'
Stunning video obtained by The Post shows Emergency Services Unit Sgt. Bryan Vesely and Detective Dan Dongvort, who were on patrol in ESU Truck 9 in Jamaica, Queens, when they sniffed out danger.
9 Two ESU cops smelled smoke in Queens that led them to a house on fire with sleeping residents inside, video shows.
New York City Police Department
'We were just driving around the area and we noticed that there was a strong odor of smoke,' said Vesely, 38, a 12-year veteran. 'We noticed that the streets in the area were starting to fill up with smoke.'
The two officers, part of an elite, 350-member unit known for daring feats, made their way to 229th Street, where they saw smoke pouring out of an attic vent, video shows.
Training immediately kicked in for the officers, who are both volunteer firefighters in Long Island, and they boldly headed into the blaze.
9 Flames raged through the Cape Cod-style home's roof as the two ESU cops searched the home for survivors.
Obtained by the New York Post
'I radioed that we needed the FDNY and EMS,' said Vesely. 'It was unknown if we had anyone inside.'
Dongvort, 38, grabbed air tanks and door-opening halligan tools, and pressurized water can out of the ESU truck.
'There was a good volume of smoke pushing out of the top,' Dongvort said. 'I moved the vehicle off to the side so the FDNY could get in.'
9 NYPD Emergency Services Unit Sergeant Bryan Vesely ran into the home to find survivors.
Obtained by the New York Post
Video shows the courageous twosome donning the compressed oxygen packs, prying open doors and scouring the Cape Cod-style home for survivors.
They checked three smoke-filled bedrooms and didn't find anyone but became worried when they saw children's toys.
'We did a secondary search to make sure we weren't missing anyone,' Dongvort said. 'Kids hide in very small spaces.'
9 ESU Det. Dan Dongvort used a halligan bar to bust through locked doors.
Obtained by the New York Post
Meanwhile, Vesley used the water can to knock back flames that licked at the floor and walls.
'I went outside to try to get a 360 of the house to see if we were missing anything,' Dongvort said. 'Turns out there was a basement apartment.'
The two went downstairs and roused a sleeping man and woman, and hurriedly escorted them outside, the video shows.
9 The fire broke out in a Queens home on Wednesday.
New York City Police Department
Vesley then pulled the stairs down from the attic and climbed inside.
'I made my way up and it looked like there was a large volume of fire right behind me,' Vesely said. 'I tried my best to hold the fire back with the water can.'
By then, the FDNY was on the scene and took over battling the all-hands blaze.
9 The ESU cops went through all the rooms and amped up their search after spying toys.
New York City Police Department
The residents were treated on the scene, and the woman thanked the cops from inside the ambulance.
The cause of the blaze is being investigated by fire marshals.
'It's not everyday we just happen to roll upon a house fire,' Vesely said. 'But we do deal with high risk rescues and high risk warrants everyday. So something like this is very common for us.'
9 ESU trucks are stocked with equipment that allows cops to jump into dangerous situations.
New York City Police Department
The humble cops said they don't need accolades.
'I like to think that any other patrol cop would have done the same thing,' Vesely said. 'I think what gave us the advantage was having the proper equipment and our training.'
9 The officers had a pressurized water can with them that helped them extinguish some of the flames as they searched.
New York City Police Department
The detective agreed.
'In reality a lot of what we do is the nooks and crannies of the city and we're making problems go away for The City of New York,' he said. 'That's really what makes ESU so great. It's truly about making a difference and doing the job.
'It's in our blood.'
9 The officers found a sleeping man and woman in a basement apartment and guided them to safety, the video shows.
New York City Police Department
Afterwards, the sergeant went to a hospital for an evaluation because of smoke inhalation.
'I texted my wife that I had to go to the hospital and everything was all right and not to worry,' he said. 'She said, 'All right.' She's used to it.'
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