That his former inquisitor took a lead role during the community’s time of need came as a no surprise to Russo. “He was always a go-getter,” he said of Carrero. “He’s a very caring, dependable, good-hearted person who would do anything to help you in a moment’s notice. He’s helped me many times, and it’s the same with the neighborhood. When they needed a flagpole, he got it organized, and he got me involved when they got the steel from 9/11 and made a memorial park. He’s a hands-on guy, there’s no doubt about it.”

Before returning to his contracting business the Friday before Thanksgiving, Carrero recruited some fellow firefighters to repair some of his neighbors’ homes, helping to get the power back on and restarting boilers.

Asked what moves him to volunteer his time at the Fire Department, Carrero, who lives across the street from his boyhood home, said he wants to maintain the small, safe and quiet neighborhood in which he grew up. “I eventually want to have kids,” he said, “and I want them to walk around here, play and not have to worry about them.”

It seems clear that, as long as Carrero stays involved, his kids, and others in Meadowmere Park, will have a bright future.