Firefighter critical after heart attack during fire response

A veteran firefighter is in critical but stable condition after suffering a heart attack in the line of duty in Woodmere. Joseph Sanford Jr., of the Inwood Fire Department, was among around 100 firefighters

News 12 Staff

Dec 20, 2014, 2:59 AM

Updated 3,506 days ago

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A veteran firefighter is in critical but stable condition after suffering a heart attack in the line of duty in Woodmere.
Joseph Sanford Jr., of the Inwood Fire Department, was among around 100 firefighters responding to a fire at 4 a.m. at a home on Central Avenue.
The fire chief says Sanford was supposed to be on the roof, but may have worked his way down to the first floor. It's believed that Sanford, 43, fell through the floor after being separated from his team.
Sanford was discovered face down and partially submerged in water by another team searching the basement. There are questions as to how Sanford got lost.
"It is very strongly possible that he could have been unaccounted for a short amount of time," says Chief Anthony Rivelli.
Sanford is a 17-year veteran of the Inwood fire department and has a wife and children.
The fire occurred at a home owned by WCBS-TV News Director David Friend. He and his wife were not at the home at the time because the house is undergoing renovations.


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