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Firefighter dies after falling four stories

Thursday, June 21, 2007

(Brooklyn - WABC, June 21, 2007) (WABC) -- Daniel Pujdak, a 23-year-old New York City firefighter, died Thursday night after plunging four stories from a burning building in Brooklyn.

He was with Ladder Company 146 in Brooklyn.

The fire happened shortly before 5 p.m. on Leonard Street in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.

Fire officials say the young firefighter from Fresh Meadows, Queens, had climbed up a ladder with heavy equipment and was preparing to cut a hole in the four-story building's roof to vent the smoke when he slipped and fell.

Witnesses said he screamed while he tumbled to the ground. Pudjak's fellow firefighters rushed to his side, but sadly it was too late.

"And I seen all the firemans and I know they're devastated because they were running over there trying to help him," an eyewitness said.

"He just fell down ... fell down like a rag doll ... I just froze ... I couldn't yell, do nothing," another eyewitness said.

"And I seen all the firemans and I know they're devastated because they were running over there trying to help him," another eyewitness said.

Pujdak, who had been on the job for two years, suffered serious head injuries, the fire department said. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. He leaves behind both parents and two younger brothers.

More than 60 firefighters from 12 units were on the scene. No other injuries were reported.

"The window sills were burning," fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said. "That was the extent of the fire, we later learned."

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said fire marshals believe the blaze was caused by a lit cigarette left near a window.

Bloomberg later met with Pudjak's family, saying: "As you would expect, they are devastated. He's gone much too soon and our hearts and prayers go out to his family. It's a terrible loss for the family and it's a terrible loss for this entire city."

This is the first line of duty death since Firefighter Michael C. Reilly of Engine Company 75 and Lieutenant Howard J. Carpluk Jr. of Engine Company 42 died battling a third-alarm fire in the South Bronx on August 27, 2006, according to fire officials.

"Firefighter Pujdak is the 1,135th member of the FDNY to make the Supreme Sacrifice in the Department's 143-year history," an FDNY press release said.

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