WASHINGTON — A D.C. firefighter hailed as a hero for sharing his breathing mask with a woman in a burning building is heading home after his release from the hospital Friday.
On Wednesday afternoon, 65-year-old Phyllis Terrell says she was preparing to jump from her third-floor apartment in the 1700 block of Minnesota Avenue in Southeast when firefighter Danny Lovato climbed a ladder to reach her. Lovato removed his mask and shared air from his tank with Terrell until other firefighters could reach her from the inside.
Both were treated for smoke inhalation. Lovato, 39, was released from Medstar Washington Hospital Center Friday. Terrell has been upgraded to “fair” condition.
Lovato, an 11-year veteran, said Friday he was surprised by the impact of the smoke.
“It’s pretty amazing how fast that smoke takes your breath away. I thought being outside that I would be OK by giving her the mask, but I wasn’t,” he said. “We had to share it. So in just that little time, it affects you greatly.”
After his release from the hospital Friday, the humble firefighter says he was acting on instinct during the rescue.
“This is what we’ve been trained to do. You may hear that it was extraordinary, but it’s not,” Lovato said at a news conference Friday. “My instinct was to help Phyllis. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to pull her over the railing because we were so high. I knew it would risk both of our lives. So I just gave her my air.”
Lovato’s wife, Adrienne says his actions are indicative of the kind of man and firefighter he is.
“I’m not surprised that he did it because it’s not something that they have to think about, it’s just what they do,” she said.
“I know that he, thinking back on it, wouldn’t have done anything different. He would have just done it again. And he may do it again.”
WTOP’s Jamie Forzato and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
