From Michael's sister, Christine Ragusa Saladeen
Michael Paul Ragusa, born in Brooklyn, NY on July 30, 1972. He waited 7 years on the FD waiting list before he was finally called and passed the physical. He became a probationary fireman in April 1999. Just a few weeks before this incident, he was the nozzle man in charge of putting out a paint fire in a warehouse in Brooklyn, which I must add, he did successfully. He loved his job. He worked out of Engine 250 Foster Avenue in Brooklyn, and was rotating to Engine 279 Red Hook section of Brooklyn.
His mother Dee, father Vincent, brothers Vincent and Kenneth, sister Christine, sister-in-law Donna, his grandmother Mary, 3 nephews Andrew, Christopher and Michael (who was named after him), his numerous childhood friends, and his girlfriend and future intended wife Jennifer await news anxiously.