Off-duty FDNY, family dog, ‘heroes’ of West Brighton house fire

Those are the only clothes she owned by the end of the day.

Just minutes after her mother, Kristi, dropped her off at the bus stop, a fire broke out in the Gregotowicz family’s West Brighton home destroying everything they owned.

“The second floor where we lived was completely gutted. We lost everything,” said Kristi Gregotowicz.

ROCKI TO THE RESCUE

Although they lost their personal possessions, the Gregotowicz family say they were touched by the bravery of their dog and an off-duty firefighter.

“A woman saw my black Labrador hitting the window upstairs, the window cracked, and the smoke started coming out. She called 911,” she said.

“I lost everything I owned, but because of Rocki, both of my dogs and my in-laws, who were home at the time, got out,” Gregotowicz added.

OFF-DUTY FIREFIGHTER RUSHES IN

At the same time the neighbor called 911, off-duty firefighter Robert Mitchell of Rescue 5, who was in the neighborhood at the time, raced inside the home to check for anyone trapped.

“I saw smoke coming from the second floor of the house. I pulled into the neighbor’s driveway and I asked the cops and neighbors if anyone was up there. And they didn’t know,” said Mitchell, who raced into the home and made his way to the second floor.

“I took a deep breath and kept my left shoulder on the wall, put my face to the floor and started searching. I got as far as I could before I was overcome with smoke. I went downstairs, took a deep breath, then got a little further next time,” he added, noting he made three trips up the stairs searching for survivors.

Once he got out the door, he saw members of Rescue 5, Engine Company 156, and Engine 79, who quickly extinguished the blaze, said Mitchell.

“There was a lot of property damage, but thank God no one was hurt. You can always replace things, but you can’t replace lives,” said Mitchell, who was treated and released from the hospital for smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by FDNY fire marshals, said an FDNY spokesman.

“I’m so thankful for the woman who called 911, Rocki for letting her know there was a fire here, and the firefighter who ran in to help,” said Gregotowicz:

“The bravery to run in with no equipment on to try to save someone else’s family is amazing,” she added.

NOW HOMELESS

Because it’s going to take six to nine months to rebuild their home, the Gregotowiczs are staying in a hotel, but will be moving into a rental.

“The rental we got will fit all five of us and they will take our dogs too,” said Gregotowicz.

Her sister, Traci Cangiano, broker/owner of the Great Kills-based Cangiano Estates, is collecting gift cards for the Gregotowiczs.