Stamford Firefighter Honored for Saving Man's Life

The off-duty Stamford Firefighter who pulled a man from a burning garage following an explosion in Old Greenwich earlier this year, has been awarded the Police and Firemen’s Insurance Association’s Heroes Hall of Fame award.

Rocco Terenzio, who’s assigned to the West Side firehouse, received the award at a ceremony at Stamford Fire Headquarters Wednesday morning, according to the Stamford Fire Department.

The award recognizes acts of bravery on or off duty that leads to the saving of another’s life. The incident for which he is receiving the award occurred March 9 on Northridge Road in Old Greenwich. Terenzio was off duty and without the benefit of personal protective clothing or a charged hose line, entered the burning garage and rescued the injured man who was working inside when an explosion occurred.

Terenzio was working at a nearby private home when the explosion rocked the neighborhood and sent plumes of smoke into the air.

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“The victim was removed from the scene by EMS and has recovered from his injuries. If not for the quick action of Firefighter Terenzio, the victim’s injuries may have been more extensive or even fatal,” according to the department.

Greenwich Police said a man who rented the home was working in the garage, using spray paint and an electric grinder while working on a go-kart. An electric grinder was the ignition source that created an explosive atmosphere created by the paint fumes in the garage that wasn’t ventilated, police said in a statement at the time. The fire quickly engulfed the garage and spread to the main house causing significant damage to the structure.

The man was arrested on reckless endangerment and criminal mischief charges and the case remains pending in state Superior Court in Stamford, according to the Connecticut Judicial Branch website.

Photos: #1: Stamford Fire Chief Peter Brown with Firefighter Rocco Terenzio and Deputy Chief Pat Tripodi courtesy of Stamford Fire Department; #2: Firefighter Rocco Terenzio courtesy of Stamford Fire Department; #3: the March 9 fire scene courtesy of Robert Meehan.