The Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) announced today that Lt. Petros Mestheneas, a 36-year member of the fire service, has been named “Firefighter of the Year.'' This award highlighted Mestheneas’ bravery and quick actions as he rushed into a burning building and pulled two of his comrades to safety as they were running out of air. Mestheneas was presented with this award at FASNY’s 152nd annual convention which was held in Niagara Falls, New York this week.
“FASNY is honored to present Lieutenant Mestheneas with this prestigious award for his selfless act of bravery,” said FASNY President Edward Tase, Jr. “His heroic efforts saved the lives of two firefighters under extraordinarily dangerous conditions. He exemplifies the values and principles FASNY preaches to first responders across the state.”
The “Firefighter of the Year” award honors an outstanding volunteer and their heroic actions. Each year, FASNY recognizes its bravest members with this prestigious honor designated for those who exemplify what the fire service and protecting our communities is all about. This award is sponsored by VFIS.
Lt. Petros Mestheneas, a 52-year-old employee of the Village of Freeport and member of the Freeport Excelsior Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1, was credited with saving the lives of the two firefighters on April 1, 2023. That morning, 180 firefighters from Freeport and other neighboring volunteer fire departments battled a five-alarm fire at the Emergency Ambulance Service Inc. garage and offices that housed 38 ambulances on Commercial Drive in Freeport, NY.
Mastheneas arrived at the 30,000-square-foot building where the two firefighters had gone searching for anyone inside the building as the fire raged. The two firefighters transmitted a mayday call as they became disoriented in the building when explosions caused conditions to rapidly deteriorate. They were low on air and now every minute mattered. Mastheneas’ actions saved these two firefighters as he pulled them to safety.
“Firefighter Mestheneas’ training and experience kicked in during this emergency,” said Raymond Maguire, Executive Director of the Freeport Fire Department, “His quick, tenacious, skilled, deliberate, and disciplined actions, while operating by himself in punishing conditions without the protection of a hose line, resulted in the rescue of two firefighters. Had he hesitated, the outcome would have been very different.”
ABOUT FASNY:
Founded in 1872, the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) represents the interests of the approximately 80,000 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel in New York State. For more information, visit www.fasny.com.