By Tien-Shun Lee and Alex Ginsberg
Thomas Prasso Sr. climbed out the window of his second-floor bedroom and onto the roof above his front porch after he was awakened by the barking of his dog, Hercules Apollo, police said.
Police Officers Jonathan Gray and Victoria Ferrentino said they arrived at Prasso's three-story house at 61-28 156th St. at 8:23 a.m. after one of Prasso's neighbors saw smoke and called 911.
The officers borrowed a ladder from a neighbor and brought Prasso down to safety. They then entered the house through the front door and went in to rescue Hercules after the elderly man told them his dog was locked inside.
Fire officials arrived at Prasso's house at 8:27 a.m., just as Gray was pulling the dog out of thick smoke.
“He was excited to get out,” Gray said of Hercules, an 8-year-old black Labrador and German shepherd mix.
Prasso was taken to New York Hospital Queens in Flushing, where he was treated for smoke inhalation.
About 60 firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in the basement of the house and spread to the kitchen and bedroom, said Joe Calvacca, a spokesman for the Fire Department. The fire was brought under control by 9:24 a.m.
The cause of the fire was under investigation, Calvacca said.
Five firefighters suffered minor injuries and were taken to New York Hospital Queens for treatment, Calvacca said.
Prasso originally thought that his granddaughter, Sharrisse Prasso, 18, was inside the burning house with the dog, but luckily she had spent the night at a friend's house, fire officials said.
Prasso's daughter, Ellen Prasso, 40, a caretaker for a building in Pomonok, petted Hercules to calm him down as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze.
“Thank God we had a new roof put on,” she said.
Neighbor Silvana Obol, 54, who called 911 after she saw smoke coming out of Prasso's house, said she was glad she was able to help.
“I know them for 25 years,” Obol said. “He's a nice guy. He always says hello, but I have no time to yak-yak with him.”
Reach reporter Tien-Shun Lee by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 155.
