We’ve had a lot of comment today on the dramatic fire rescue photo we ran on the front page of today’s Daily Gazette and on dailygazette.com.

Gazette photographer Peter Barber captured an image of Schenectady firefighter Stephen Helstowski at the top of a ladder plucking a young woman from the third floor of a burning apartment house on Strong Street on Monday.

In the picture, Helstowski appears to be floating alongside the top of the ladder as he helps the victim escape.

A number of callers offered praise for the heroic efforts of Helstowski and his comrades who managed to get six residents off a third-story porch as flames virtually licked at their heels.

Our favorite call came from a reader who offered this observation: “Do you know why that firefighter didn’t need a ladder?”

“Why’s that?” I asked.

“Because he’s an angel,” she answered.

We think a lot of people would agree with that sentiment.

Irv Dean is the Gazette’s city editor. E-mail him at dean@dailygazette.com.