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by EFF HARRELL
The retired firefighter who rescued a little boy from a burning house in Great Kills last week was honored yesterday for his heroism -- and the firefighters who stopped the blaze from spreading to neighboring homes were lauded as well.
In a ceremony at Engine Co. 162/Ladder Co. 82 on Nelson Avenue, retired Firefighter John Rubino Jr. of Grant City was praised for carrying 3-year-old Dennis Dyadkin from the blazing home at 3 Dunbar St. on Friday, saving his life.
City Councilman Andrew Lanza (R-South Shore) and Rep. Vita Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) joined in recognizing Rubino.
The 20-year FDNY veteran, flanked by his wife, Felice Rubino, and son, John Rubino III, 14, received a plaque with a proclamation from Lanza and a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Fossella.
Rubino's younger son, Frank, 10, was in school and couldn't attend the presentation.
"Thirty seconds comes to mind," Fossella said to Rubino. "Thirty seconds more and not just a 3-year-old boy would have lost his life, you would have lost yours."
Firefighters from Engine 162/Ladder 82 were also recognized. Noting that the area near the Staten Island Mall -- designated as the "Boulevard of Heroes" in honor of the firefighters who perished during Sept. 11 -- Lanza presented a framed "Boulevard of Heroes" sign to the company.
"[Rubino] saved a life that day," said Lanza, who lives near Dunbar Street and witnessed the fire. "These guys saved a block."
Rubino was watching his youngest son play baseball at a park across the street when he heard about the fire. He raced to the corner of Dunbar and Nahant streets and found 12-year-old Raysa Dyadkin screaming that her little brother was trapped inside.
Fighting his way through raging flames and thick smoke, Rubino "stayed low" and blindly felt the little boy's foot. Dennis was "limp in my arms" when Rubino carried him outside and administered CPR.
But he would accept only a portion of the credit for saving the youngster's life.
"[Raysa] was the whole key," Rubino said. "The house was so big, I wouldn't have known where to go."
Dennis and his mother, Alla Dyadkina, were taken to Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze. Although mother and son were in critical condition throughout the weekend, a hospital spokeswoman said Monday that Mrs. Dyadkina's condition had been upgraded to "fair." Yuriy Dyadkin said his son was "better."
The family can thank yesterday's honorees.
"The minute you put [a firefighter's] uniform on, you're a hero," Lanza said. "[Rubino] is proof that, once a hero, always a hero."
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