Sunday morning a New York City Fire Department lieutenant was killed while fighting a fire in Staten Island. He was knocked out by a piece of ceiling from the burning building collapsing on him.

Lieutenant Robert J. Ryan, aged 46, was a veteran of 17 years in the department. He last served with Engine Company 155, which was the first to respond to a fire report at 39 Van Buren Street in New Brighton sometime after 12:30 a.m. The blaze was started by faulty electrical wiring in the attic, according to fire marshals.

Lt. Ryan led fellow firefighters and a hose into the attic when "as the fire intensified, a portion of the ceiling fell and apparently struck Lieutenant Ryan," said NY City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg at a press conference at Richmond University Medical Center where Ryan had been rushed to after his injury. "Unconscious, he was carried out of the building by his fellow firefighters who were standing right around him when the accident occurred."

Ryan’s helmet and air mask were knocked off by the impact causing him to asphyxiate. ''Firefighters and EMS personnel on the scene tried to revive him, but they were, I am sad to say, unsuccessful, '' Mr. Bloomberg said. ''He was rushed here to Richmond University Medical Center where, despite the best efforts of the medical staff, he was pronounced dead.''

Lieutenant Ryan had been assigned to Engine 255 for more than two years, but had worked in many other companies in the past, including Engine 6 in Manhattan, which had been on call during 9/11. Ryan helped rebuild the Engine 6 after the events.

He is survived by His wife Kathleen; his son Chris, 17; daughter Kayla, 12; stepson Alex, 10; and stepdaughter Emma, 8.