Amputee fireman proud to serve community

(Morris Plains, New Jersey - WABC, January 23, 2007) (WABC) -- He's a man chasing a dream to become a Paterson, New Jersey firefighter.

Isaac Feliciano passed all the physical exams, but was denied a spot in the fire academy when a doctor noticed his prosthetic leg.

We introduced him to you Monday night.

On Tuesday, New Jersey reporter Toni Yates has more on another local amputee, who has been allowed to serve his community as a firefighter.

A group of firemen is just returning from a call on a car fire. They are all volunteers, so when the call goes out, they come running in from home or work.

John Downs gets there just as quickly as everyone else. He also gets his gear on just as fast, even though he has one extra very important step. Downs has to switch his prosthetic leg to the one attached to his fire boot.

"A couple guy were like, 'Wow, look at that, you know, what's this guy doing here," Downs said. "And then I kinda explained to them how long I've been doing it."

John has been helping keep the borough of Morris Plains safe for about a year now. Before that, he was a volunteer firefighter in several other towns.

In fact, he's been doing it for 14 years. He saw Isaac's story and wanted to show people it can be done and is being done.

John lost his leg above the knee to cancer when he was 19. Like Isaac, he never let it slow down his determination to realize his goals.

"I've gone onto roofs, climbed 40-foot ladders," Downs said. "Just had a call for a car fire, and I was right in there, putting a pack on and going for that."

And the volunteers there welcomed him and trusted his abilities from start.

"Whatever orders I've given him, he's followed," Morris Plains Fire Chief Michael Geary said. "So there's really nothing I haven't seen him not be able to do."

No big deal, John says. He just wants the doubters to see him, believe it and step out of the way of people like Isaac.

Get more News »

• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•