By Justin Grant
It’s not something you often hear about at the scene of a fire – two firefighters rescuing a cat and dog from inside a burning house and saving their lives.
And who exactly were these heroic firefighters? They were Cos Cob’s Fire Police Patrol’s finest, Second Lieutenant Brett Atkinson and his partner, Sergeant Nik LaBorne. Lieutenant Atkinson and Sergeant LaBorne were not only facing an upheaval battle with the blaze in the home, but they were up against a deadly nor’easter on Friday, March 2, the monster storm which took the lives of at least nine people throughout the region. However, that didn’t stop them from conducting their searches in and around the house at 212 Bible Street and bringing the 10 year-old cat, Chelsea, and the 9 year-old dog, Hailey, to safety.
So what exactly caused this inferno that demolished Jennifer and H. Shepard Boone’s rental house on Bible Street in Cos Cob?
According to Second Lieutenant Atkinson, 26, of Greenwich, who’s been a firefighter for eight years, an electrical surge occurred after a tree fell down on nearby power lines. As a result, the surge then came back into the house and caused electrical problems. At the time they arrived at the house, Second Lieutenant Atkinson and Sergeant LaBorne didn’t know there was anyone inside the house, until, after conducting searches inside the smoking house, they came upon Hailey and Chelsea.
When asked how he felt after his rescue mission, Second Lieutenant Atkinson stated, “[We] were definitely in awe, we were just trying to make sure the dog and the cat were okay; they got transported to a local animal hospital.” He recalled a few days after the fire broke out that Hailey and Chelsea made a dramatic turnaround and both were doing well. But as the night was wrapping up, he wanted to leave the residents of Cos Cob with a stern message.
“If there is ever a fire in your home or apartment, immediately exit, call 9-1-1, make sure if you have kids to get them out of the house, and then get yourself out of the house…you can fix a house, but you can’t fix a human being.”
But, let’s not forget about the Boone family who couldn’t find the right words to describe their emotions because all they felt was blessed and were savoring the moment after hearing of the amazing news. Homeowner, Jennifer, noted that the family was out at a restaurant for dinner at the time when all “hell’” broke loose. And the minute the family arrived at the scene of carnage, their cat and dog were already on the way to the local animal hospital. So, the only thing the Boone family could do was pray for their pets.
At the Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol Department, Jennifer said with a big smile, “We are so grateful that Second Lieutenant Atkinson and Sergeant LaBorne rescued our cat and dog.” As a token of appreciation, the Boone family baked cookies for the Cos Cob firefighters and, along with Hailey, greeted them with open arms. Today, Hailey is feeling fresh as new going on walks, barking fine, and has her full energy back.
Also at the fire department praising Second Lieutenant Atkinson’s and Sergeant LaBorne’s job during the nor’easter was Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol Chief Brian Kelly, who was the first 18 year-old to have ever joined and has served in the department for a little over 24 years. Chief Kelly, 42, expressed this thoughts about the underlying success of his team members.
“Brett Atkinson and Nik LaBorne are phenomenal members; we build up their skill level, we instill their values on how to be good line officers, because they are leaders.” If one thing is for sure, the department means the world to Chief Kelly, not only because his own grandfather originally swore him in many years ago, but also because he feels serving in the department is a great way to help neighbors and strangers, build a community connection and also have a positive impact on other people.
“I am not only proud of Atkinson and LaBorne, I am also proud of every member of the Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol Department and the whole Greenwich Department as well.” He had three key words to describe Atkinson’s and LaBorne’s rescue: it was a “job well done.”
