FDNY members receive Presidential Medal of Valor for rescues in the Bronx, Manhattan

January 7, 2025

Two FDNY members were awarded the Presidential Medal of Valor on Jan. 3 for their heroic actions at fires in the Bronx and Manhattan.

The Medal of Valor is the nation's highest decoration for bravery exhibited by public safety officers in the United States and is presented for extraordinary valor beyond the call of duty.

In October 2022, Lieutenant John Vanderstar of Ladder Company 44, responded to a fire on the top floor of an apartment building in the Bronx. Lt. Vanderstar bravely crawled into the apartment and located a toddler and mother. He sheltered them in place until firefighters extinguished heavy fire that was blocking the exit.

Lt. Vanderstar was awarded the Emily Trevor/Mary B. Warren Medal at the FDNY's 2023 Medal Day Ceremony.

In February 2023, Firefighter Brendan Gaffney of Ladder Company 36, responded to a fire in Inwood. As members entered the building lobby, residents told the members there were victims trapped on the fifth floor. Firefighter Gaffney entered the apartment, encountering zero visibility and intense heat fueled by an exploding lithium-ion battery from an e-bike, which was blocking the exit. Firefighter Gaffney reached a rear bedroom and rescued two unconscious individuals-a child and a pregnant woman.

Firefighter Gaffney was awarded the Hugh Bonner Medal & Honor Legion Medal at the 2024 Medal Day Ceremony.

"These two members exemplify the courage, dedication and selflessness that define the FDNY. Their heroic actions, carried out at great personal risk, saved the lives of four New Yorkers in moments of unimaginable danger," FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker said. "Being awarded the Presidential Medal of Valor is a testament not only to their extraordinary bravery, but also the unwavering commitment of all FDNY members who serve this city every day."