James Blackmore, the New York City firefighter and Farmingdale resident who was killed while leading a rescue charge into a burning building in Brooklyn last Friday night, was remembered this week as a hero.

The 48-year-old father of four ran into the building with Captain Scott LaPiedra of Staten Island, after hearing reports of a trapped woman. The second floor collapsed, plunging both men into flames on the first floor. The woman had earlier escaped the blaze unharmed.

More than 220 firefighters and 52 trucks were at the five-alarm fire, which occurred in three wood-frame buildings on Atlantic Avenue in the East New York section of Brooklyn. Several of them rushed into the flames to rescue Blackmore and LaPiedra, who were then taken to a nearby hospital. However, Blackmore was in cardiac arrest and showed no vital signs. He died at the hospital a short while later.

LaPiedra, a 40-year-old father of four, who has been on the job 19 years, sustained 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 70 percent of his body. As of Monday, he was in extremely critical condition in the burn unit at Jacobi Hospital, his family holding a vigil at his bedside.

Those firefighters who rushed in after Blackmore and LaPiedra were Lieutenant Timothy Stackpole of Marine Park, Brooklyn; and Firefighters Brian Baker of Glendale, John Schulker of Seaford, Long Island, Terrence Quinn of Smithtown, Long Island, and Dominick Michelli of Centereach, Long Island. Both Stackpole and Baker sustained 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 30 percent of their bodies, according to Frank McCarton, a spokesperson for the New York City Fire Department. On Monday, McCarton said the two men were in critical but stable condition at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. Schulker, Quinn and Michelli were in serious but stable condition at New York Hospital as of Monday.

On Tuesday, the condition of some of the firefighters had been upgraded. Kathleen Robinson, a New York Hospital spokesperson, said Stackpole, Baker and Quinn were in serious condition. Schulker and Michelli, she said, had been released from the hospital.

Firefighters Michael Weglarz and Steven Murphy were also injured in the blaze. They were treated at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center and released over the weekend.

McCarton noted that Lieutenant Blackmore should be remembered as a hero. "This man was just doing his job," he said Monday. "He's a hero. He went up there because of persons who were trapped." He added that the fire is still under investigation.

Blackmore joined the New York City Fire Department in 1977. In 1995, he was promoted from firefighter to lieutenant, and was assigned to engine company 332. He's been cited five times for acts of bravery during his 21 years with the fire department. He was the 766th member of the New York City Fire Department to die in the line of duty in the organization's 133-year history, according to McCarton. Blackmore is survived by his wife, Susan; daughters, Jacqueline, Sara, and Clare; and son, Brian.

Services for the lieutenant were held at McCourt & Trudden Funeral Home in Farmingdale on Monday and Tuesday. In addition to family and friends, firefighters from both the New York City and Farmingdale fire departments poured into the funeral home on Main Street. As they did, the mood in the village was somber, and the flag in front of Farmingdale Fire Department's firehouse flew at half-mast.

A funeral service for Blackmore was held Wednesday at St. Kilian Roman Catholic Church in Farmingdale.