Wednesday, April 24, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
By ANDY GARDNER MASSENA -- Seven members of the Massena Fire Department were honored for running into a burning house to try and save a child who was trapped inside, but ultimately died. The members …
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By ANDY GARDNER
MASSENA -- Seven members of the Massena Fire Department were honored for running into a burning house to try and save a child who was trapped inside, but ultimately died.
The members were honored by the Board of Trustees at their Tuesday meeting after being named Firemen's Association of the State of New York's firefighters of the year. They include Lt. Matt Chontosh, firefighter James F. Debien, Capt. James R. Debien, firefighter James Horan, Capt. Michael Macaulay, Lt. Jason Newcombe and firefighter Connor Terrance.
The fatal fire happened on Feb. 22, 2017 at 2224 State Route 420. Firefighters were dispatched just before 10 p.m. that evening with a report of a person trapped.
"The firemen immediately sprang into action," Mayor Tim Currier said in remarks lauding the firefighters. "Within minutes of the call, firefighters located the child and got him to the ambulance."
He said the firemen rushed into the building in full turnout gear with breathing equipment. The Debiens sprayed water from the bottom of the stairs in an attempt to get at the child on the second floor. Firemen then "entered bedroom where the child reportedly was but was unable to get past the bed due to the intense heat," Currier said. Newcombe found the child, 5-year-old Aiden M. Riley, who handed him to Chontosh, who then handed him to Macaulay. Macaulay then raced the boy outside where Massena Rescue Squad Chief Wayne Love performed livesaving measures, and he was taken to Massena Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
"Despite the immediate and valiant effort, the child was pronounced deceased," Currier said. "I know the results of this day were tragic, and we do so with the family of Aiden Riley on our minds.
"We thank all of you for your service."
The child was trapped in the room after having been locked in prior to the fire starting. His grandmother, Shari Caza, then 54, was charged in September 2017 with child endangerment after county sheriff's investigators said she put the boy to bed and then locked the door from outside, making it impossible for him to get out.
