Commack Man Saves Six from Apartment Blaze

A Commack volunteer firefighter is being lauded for heeding the call to action, no matter where the calling came. 

Con Edison officials say Michael Breslin, a Con Ed substation specialist, was working last Saturday afternoon in Van Nest, a work-out location in the Bronx, when he spotted fire and smoke coming from a nearby apartment building. 

Breslin, a volunteer firefighter of two years for , dashed into the three-story apartment building and immediately began evacuating residents, according to Con Edison officials. 

"I knew that getting everyone out of the building was the first order of business. I told residents they didn’t have time to go back into their apartments to get anything,” Breslin said in a statement. “Keeping everyone safe was the only thing on my mind."

He helped evacuate six apartment residents out of their home into te streets. The fire would draw the efforts more than 200 New York's bravest, police and firefighters, before it was extinguished. The building was destroyed. 

Timothy Cawley, vice president of substations for Con Edison, hailed Breslin, a 24-year veteran employee, for his heroic action. 

"His quick and professional response made all the difference that day," Cawley said in a statement. 

Commack Fire Department officials who have heard word of Breslin's actions praised him. 

"He exemplifies what a volunteer in Commack is, always willing to go above and beyond - it doesn’t matter where he is. The district is extremely proud of him," said Fire Commissioner Pat Fazio.