Staten Island firefighters sue NYC, claiming department policy nearly cost them their lives

Several firefighters announced a lawsuit against New York City on Monday, claiming they were nearly killed while battling a house fire in February 2023.

Four firefighters are seeking a total of $80 million—$20 million each—for injuries they suffered in the fire, which they argue was exacerbated by a city policy that closes firehouses for annual physicals, - ABC News7 reports.
 

Retired FDNY Lt. Bill Doody and firefighters William Guidera, Kwabena Brentuo, and John Sarnes were among 22 firefighters injured in the Shotwell Avenue fire.
 

They allege that Ladder Company 167, the closest firehouse to the blaze, was out of service because all its personnel were at FDNY headquarters in Downtown Brooklyn for their annual medical exams, as mandated by agency policy.
 

This effectively rendered the firehouse out of service, leaving responding firefighters shorthanded and putting lives at risk.
 

"You're talking about life-altering injuries. Lt. Doody had unidentified material melted onto his leg, and Firefighter Guidera had to jump out of a second-floor window," said attorney Andreas Koutsoudakis. "Instead of someone responding from two blocks away, it was a 20-minute wait, and instead of a fire that could have been extinguished in five minutes, they faced a raging inferno that collapsed."
 

The attorneys aim to change the policy that closes firehouses without providing replacements.
 

Doody, now retired after 30 years due to his injuries, wants to prevent future harm.
 

"I couldn't live with myself if I didn't try to stop this," he said.
 

The FDNY did not comment on the lawsuit but noted that about 20 fire companies are out of service across the city at any given time for safety reasons, including routine physicals, training, or equipment maintenance.