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by THE JOURNAL NEWS
Firefighter Jeffrey Cool of Garnerville, injured in the Jan. 23 New York City blaze that killed a fellow Rocklander, knows the meaning of borrowed time. It is a great gift to his family that the man who 12 weeks ago doctors weren't sure would live, let alone stand again, is now home after impressive care and rehabilitation, including a stay at Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw.
Cool and five other Fire Department of New York firefighters were forced to jump out of a four-story Bronx building to escape flames after their exit route was blocked by an illegal interior wall. Cool and three others were injured, while two firefighters, John Bellew of Pearl River and Lt. Curtis Meyran died.
The 38-year-old "miracle man," as his loved ones call him, has been greatly assisted in recovery, not only by his FDNY and West Haverstraw volunteer brotherhood but by the usual caring Rockland shows those in need. Says Cool: "I never thought I was going to walk again. God's given me a second chance in life." He has also given his wife Jill and sons Jeffrey Jr., 8, and Dylan, 5, that same chance.
The days and months and years ahead will not be free from further rehabilitation. There will be more pain. You cannot break your pelvis in several places, both shoulders, 13 ribs and your cranium plus sever two major arteries without serious change to your body.
But, as Firefighter Cool said upon his recent discharge: "It's a great day to be alive." That is a gift which this man will surely use well, as his purpose in life is enhanced by tragedy. He lives now not only for his own life's fulfillment but for the fellow firefighters who did not survive.
Cool says he intends to fight for firefighter safety by advocating that ropes and harnesses be supplied. The equipment was once issued by the FDNY but has been banned for several years. He adds that he has already spoken to city Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta. This would be a most important mission as would pressing city hall to improve building inspection procedures to reduce illegal construction.
The Rescue 3 member used a thermal-imaging camera to locate firefighters on the Bronx apartment building's fourth floor after responding to the January blaze. The fire quickly spread from the third to the fourth floor and intensified. Cool has said that while he didn't see any firefighters jump, he knew they had. Equipped with his own fire rope, Cool made his way to a nearby window where he saw Joseph DiBernardo, a member of his unit, at another window.
Standing on an air-conditioning duct as flames burned his legs, Cool tossed DiBernardo the rope so he could anchor it. DiBernardo slung the rope on his arm and began to lower Cool. The rope snapped and he fell about 50 feet. Seconds later, DiBernardo also fell. But they both survived, thanks to a rope.
"I just feel lucky and blessed to be alive," says Firefighter Cool. May you have a good life, sir, and now one with extra purpose.
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