Freeport’s Lt. Petros Mestheneas awarded “Firefighter of the Year” for heroic rescue

Lt. Petros Mestheneas of the Freeport Fire Department received the esteemed “Firefighter of the Year” award from the Firefighters Association of the State of New York in a ceremony on Aug. 8.

The honor, presented at the association’s 152nd annual convention held in Niagara Falls, recognized the lieutenant’s extraordinary bravery during a harrowing fire in April of 2023, when his quick actions saved the lives of two fellow firefighters.

A 36-year veteran of fire service, Lt. Mestheneas is well known in the Freeport community for his dedication and leadership.

On the morning of April 1, 2023, he answered the ultimate test during a five-alarm fire at the Emergency Ambulance Service garage and offices, at 30 Commercial St. in Freeport.

The fire, which engulfed the 30,000-square-foot building housing 38 ambulances, posed an extreme threat to all responders, officials said.

The raging blaze produced explosions, which shook the building, and two firefighters who had entered to search for potential victims became disoriented, fire officials said.

With conditions rapidly deteriorating and their air supplies dwindling, the two Freeport firefighters, Djaun Matthews and Matthew Lafleur, issued a mayday call.

Lt. Mestheneas, acting on instinct and years training, rushed into the blaze without hesitation, knowing every second counted.

“When I got there, it was a bad fire — a 30,000-square-foot building, and then the mayday came over,” Mestheneas recalled. “When it’s one of your own, you’ve got two options: You’re going to go in and either come out with them, or you’re going to die trying. There’s no other option.

“On the radio transmission, you could hear the Vibralert — the noise the air pack makes when you’re out of air,” Mestheneas added. “That’s what got me — the pit in my stomach and the hair standing up on my neck — because they didn’t have a lot of time.”

Operating alone and without the protection of a hose line, Lt. Mestheneas navigated the smoke-filled building, using his knowledge from previous visits to the structure to locate the trapped firefighters.

“We were familiar with the building, having responded to it for alarms in the past,” he said. “When they transmitted the mayday and gave their location, I knew where to start my search.”

Lt. Mestheneas found the two firefighters, as their air supplies were nearly depleted, and one firefighter, Djaun Matthews, was holding his breath as he made his way out.

Thanks to the lieutenant’s decisive actions, both firefighters were pulled to safety, avoiding what could have been a tragic outcome.

They were instead both treated for smoke inhalation injuries, having survived the blaze that led to a partial collapse of the Emergency Ambulance Service building where it raged before 150 firefighter personnel from 26 different departments extinguished the flames.

“I just happened to be at the right place at the right time, and by the grace of God, we found our way out,” Mestheneas said.

Edward Tase, Jr., the president of the firefighters association, praised Mestheneas during the awards ceremony.

“FASNY is honored to present Lt. Mestheneas with this prestigious award for his selfless act of bravery,” Tase said. “His heroic efforts saved the lives of two firefighters under extraordinarily dangerous conditions. He exemplifies the values and principles FASNY preaches to first responders across the state.”

The “Firefighter of the Year” award, sponsored by Volunteer Firefighters Insurance Services, recognizes outstanding volunteer firefighters who have performed heroic actions, going above and beyond in service to their communities.

A seven-member selection committee decided that the lieutenant’s actions stood out among 11 nominations that the committee had reviewed.

“This was amazing — above and beyond normal operations,” said Larry Hall, head of the FASNY selection committee. “If he hadn’t gone in when he did, they wouldn’t have been looking for two firefighters; they’d have been looking for two firefighter bodies. He just acted that quickly with his training and expertise, and by doing it, he saved two lives.”

Mestheneas has been a firefighter since 1988, having previously served in Port Washington and Hempstead before arriving in Freeport in 2007.

“I did nothing more than what any member of Church Street Truck (Company One) would have done,” he said. “Anything I receive today is a product of all the training that I received from Freeport Truck and the senior men who passed their knowledge down to me.”

Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy, who attended the awards ceremony, told the Herald that, “On behalf of the trustees, residents of Village of Freeport, and myself, I again want to congratulate and thank firefighter Petros Mestheneas for his heroic actions at 30 Commercial St. His courageous actions are responsible for saving the lives of two fellow firefighters in Freeport.”

Ray Maguire, executive director of the Freeport Fire Department and the one who submitted the nomination, emphasized the lieutenant’s crucial role in the department.

“He’s a leader … and sets a very positive example for our younger firefighters,” Maguire said. “The bravery he demonstrated that day is just testimony to his commitment and dedication.”

Mestheneas also will receive national recognition in November by Firehouse Magazine, having been named the grand prizewinner of the National Valor Award for Rescue of the Year.

“I’m glad it brings a lot to Freeport, Freeport Truck and the fire department … I’m very grateful, I’m humbled,” Mestheneas said.

In addition, he expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve his community.

“It’s a great honor and a privilege,” he said. “There’s a lot of tradition and experience in the Freeport Fire Department...and anything that I receive … is a product of the training I received from Church Street Truck … they’re legendary in my eyes. The only reason those guys are alive today... is a result of the training that they gave me.”