New York – 3 City Workers Rescue 9 from Fire

Three Rochester city environmental services employees don't consider themselves heroes, but the nine people they rescued from a burning apartment building know they are.

Rochester, New York

True Heroes — Eliud Rodríguez (left), Derek Hardy and Robert Wright hold plaques they received from Council 66.

Photo Credit: Don McNamara

Three Rochester city environmental services employees don't consider themselves heroes, but the nine people they rescued from a burning apartment building know they are.

Eliud Rodríguez, Derek Hardy and Robert Wright — all members of Local 1635 (Council 66) — “are truly great examples of the men and women who work in city government,” says Mayor Robert Duffy. The mayor recently presented the keys of the city to Rodríguez, 57, and Hardy, 31; and gave a special recognition award to Wright, 60.

Council 66 also honored the three refuse collection workers by awarding them with plaques for the quick action and bravery they demonstrated when a fire broke out in a three-story, multi-family house one cold Saturday last November.

Rodríguez, alone in a collection truck, was the first to spot smoke. After reporting the fire to his dispatcher, he ran to the suddenly engulfed structure and kicked in a side door, where he encountered an elderly woman and a child.

Arriving moments later, Hardy joined Rodríguez rescuing people inside the building. Wright, outside, helped them find shelter. All nine residents were recovered, unharmed, by the time firefighters arrived. Rodríguez was treated for smoke inhalation.

Each man rejects the “hero” label. “Heroes are over in the war, fighting for us,” Wright says he told the mayor. “I'm just a public servant.”