Mark Iovino helped to rescue Lesley Berman from burning, Westbury, New York, January 11, 2010. Berman, 56, was in her bedroom on the second floor of her two-story house after fire broke out in that room and filled the floor with dense smoke. First responders included Iovino, 41, police officer, and three other officers, all of whom entered the structure on learning that Berman was trapped inside. Climbing to the second floor, where he heard Berman in the burning bedroom, Iovino went to his hands and knees and crawled into the room. Sweeping with his hands, he located Berman on the floor about 15 feet into the room. He then stood, grasped Berman by the arms, and, guided by one of the other officers calling to him from the vicinity of the bedroom door, returned to the door, dragging Berman. Iovino handed her off to the other officers, who removed her to the first floor and outside to safety as Iovino fled the house for air. Berman required hospitalization for treatment of smoke inhalation and burns. Iovino was also taken to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation, and he recovered.
83071 – 9439
83071-9439