A 42-year-old New York City firefighter from Bethpage fell to his death while working to extinguish a blaze in Queens on Thursday afternoon, city officials said.
William Tolley, a 14-year FDNY veteran assigned to Ladder 135, was one of about 100 firefighters that responded to a two-alarm fire in Ridgewood, when he fell from a second floor of an apartment building at 2:20 p.m., city officials said. He was rushed to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, where he died of his injuries.
“I join with all FDNY members in honoring the memory of our brother who unfortunately lost his life in the line of duty earlier today,” said Jake Lemonda, president of The Fdny-Uniformed Fire Officers Association.
“This is an extremely dangerous job that our dedicated members put their lives on the line every day to protect the residents of the City of New York,” he said. “On behalf of the officers union, I offer condolences to his family and friends.”
Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, himself a Bethpage resident, noted Tolley also served as a volunteer firefighter for the Bethpage Fire Department. Mangano ordered flags on county buildings to be flown at half staff April 21-27 in Tolley’s honor.
Tolley is survived by his wife, Marie, and his daughter, Isabella.
