Hero Firefighter Honored for Dragging Victim in UWS Fire to Safety
Firefighter James M. Lafferty was named the recipient of the John H. Prentice Medal at the annual FDNY City Hall medal ceremony June 3. Lafferty received the medal for his courage during a harrowing fire in December 2025.
| 04 Jun 2026 | 09:01
James M. Lafferty was presented with the John H. Prentice medal for his heroic actions at a December 9 , 2025 fire during the annual FDNY medal ceremony. (
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Firefighter James Lafferty with his family, Mayor Mamdani, FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore, and FDNY Department Chief John Esposito. (Photo: Martina Dimitrova)
An apartment building on the corner of 107th St and Amsterdam Ave. was set ablaze in the morning of December 9, 2025. After receiving the alarm, James Lafferty and his ladder company quickly responded and rescued occupants on the scene. (Credit: FDNY)
The resulting damage of the December 9 fire. (Photo: Jack Ahern)
When firefighters first got inside a raging fire at 201 W. 107th St. on Dec. 9, 2025,that would eventually go to four alarms, they were met with blinding smoke and fire that had engulfed two rooms in a top floor unit of a six-story building on the corner of Amsterdam Avenue.
They found the door to one room in the apartment was compromised due to a partial ceiling collapse due to the fast spreading fire and the door to a second room had already been incinerated. Faint cries for help could be heard coming from within.
Crawling on his stomach because of the intense heat, Firefighter James M. Lafferty found a badly burned victim and pulled him from the burning bedroom, shielding him from the heat with his own body before handing him off to other firefighters who brought him downstairs to EMTs.
For his heroic actions that day, firefighter Lafferty, who is normally assigned to Engine company 76 but who was detailed to ladder company 22 that day, was awarded the John H. Prentice Medal at the FDNY’s 157th Medal Day celebration at City Hall on June 3.
The 2026 FDNY medal ceremony awarded firefighters throughout the city with awards commemorating the lifesaving actions of members of the FDNY ‘family’ over the past year.
The fire resulted in heavy damage of the UWS building, partially collapsing the roof and leaving two occupants and one firefighter with minor injuries reported at the scene.
This is not the first medal that firefighter Lafferty has received. In 2024, he received the Dr. John F. Cornell Medal for his bravery during an August 2023 fire.
“Had it not been for his daring and expedient actions, the outcome of the incident would have been far more tragic,” said FDNY Captain Andrew Brown the master of ceremonies.. “In this instance, great risk was followed with great reward: a courageous public servant’s risk, the reward of a life preserved. For his efforts, Firefighter James Lafferty is awarded the John H. Prentice Medal.”
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani also spoke at the ceremony, praising the distinguished firefighters for their valor and service: “We are deeply grateful for the courage shown on extraordinary days, and for the steady dedication shown every day in service to this city. On behalf of the people of New York City, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to this year’s honorees and my deepest gratitude to the entire FDNY family.”
“Your service makes this city stronger, safer, and more united,” Mamdani added.