by ADAM LISBERG
Rappelling off a midtown high-rise, a heroic firefighter rescued two window washers as they dangled precariously from a broken scaffold 500 feet above a Manhattan street. Firefighter Robert Roderka steadied himself against the white tile facade of Worldwide Plaza, hooked rescue ropes onto the harnesses of the stranded workers and then signaled his fellow Bravest to pull the men to safety about 7:30 a.m. It was an unforgettable way for Roderka, 43, to mark his last day as a member of the famed Rescue 1 unit. "It's not a good day to be a window washer," the 13-year veteran said after saving the workers at the 49th St. and Eighth Ave. tower and later rescuing a worker stuck in a midtown air shaft. "But they're keeping us busy, and we like to be busy." The high-wire rescue at the 50-story Worldwide Plaza was the first of Roderka's career. But he said he didn't hesitate going over the edge to save John Martino and Silva Ruiz because he trusted his fellow firefighters. "It wasn't a big deal," Roderka said. "Before you go over the edge, you look back and see who's there. And then when you look down the 48 stories, it's not that big a deal anymore." Firefighters from Squad 18 and Ladder 4 helped the rescue company make the save. The window washers suffered some pulled muscles but didn't need to go to a hospital for treatment. "They were pretty calm," Roderka said. "It was almost like they had been in that situation before." The city Buildings Department ordered the window washers' company, Temco Services, and officials with Worldwide Plaza to stop work until investigators determine why the scaffold failed, authorities said. Roderka will leave Rescue 1 after his promotion to lieutenant tomorrow. He has spent 21/2 years with the elite squad. "After 13 years, I still enjoy coming to the firehouse. I can't imagine doing anything else," he said. "It's not over yet. We've still got nine hours here, so we'll see what else happens." A minute after those words left his mouth, Rescue 1 was dispatched to another failed scaffolding, where two construction workers hung in an air shaft at 215 W. 75th St. This time, Roderka perched on a window ledge and saved a worker who was hanging from a rope seven stories above the ground.
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