The Brooklyn fire that killed FDNY Lt. John H. Martinson was caused by a six-year-old child who was playing with wrapping or packaging paper over the open flames of a stove left on to heat a 14th floor apartment. When the paper caught fire, the boy attempted to hide the smoldering paper under a mattress, trailing embers throughout the apartment. When the child's mother discovered the bedroom in flames, she grabbed the six-year-old and his twin brother and fled from the building. The door to the apartment was left open, however, allowing billowing smoke to fill the hallway.

Thinking a family was still in the apartment Lt. Martinson led his five man team up 14 flights of stairs carrying heavy equipment. By the time they reached the apartment and found no one inside, the team was running out of air and Martinson made sure everyone evacuated. In the smoke and confusion, his team did not realize he was not following them out. He did not, and burns to his face indicate that he probably removed his mask as he ran out of air and fell to the floor unconscious. A second team pulled him from the building, already in cardiac arrest.

The New York Times describes a man nicknamed Johnny Nice Guy, who was fondly remembered by family, friends, and neighbors as someone who was always there for people. An elderly neighbor from Staten Island where he grew up and still lived remembered a the 40-year-old firefighter as someone who always shoveled her walk during the winter and wouldn't accept any payment. Lt. Martinson was married with a 23-year-old son. His wife is expecting their second child.