The Department is mourning the loss of Firefighter Joseph A. Ferrugia, 61, from COVID-19. Firefighter Ferrugia was a 30-year veteran of the Department, joining the FDNY in October, 1990, assigned to Ladder Company 142 in Queens. Twice in his outstanding career he was cited for bravery. Most recently, he was assigned to the Rebreather Unit, as part of the Department’s Special Operations Command, where he served in a critical support role training members and responding to incidents where Firefighters would take part in extended emergency operations underground and in tunnels.

“Firefighter Ferrugia is the thirteenth member of the Department to die due to COVID-19,” said Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro. “This horrific illness has taken far too many lives, and now it has killed a man who bravely served New Yorkers for three decades. He ran toward danger his entire career, searching for those trapped by flames and doing all he could to save them. Our entire Department mourns his loss.”

He was a World Trade Center first responder and a senior Firefighter whose actions saved the lives of others and made his fellow members safer. He is the first active FDNY Firefighter to die due to COVID-19. A resident of Long Island, he is survived by his three adult children and five siblings.