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For the last two days, retired firefighter Jeff Cool has recounted for jurors the moment he fell 50 feet from a burning apartment building.

He wasn't the only firefighter to try escaping out the building's windows that morning. Five others did too.

Lieutenant Curtis Meyran and firefighter John Bellew died from their injuries.

Cool testified against two of the buildings tenants, its owner and landlord. Caridad Coste, Rafael Castillo and Caesar Rios are all on trial for manslaughter.

"It won't bring Curt and John back but hopefully it'll bring some peace to the family," said Cool.

Prosecutors said the firefighters were trapped by illegal walls the tenants put up to create extra rooms they could rent out and that the owner and landlord should have stopped them.

"We see this day in, day out. These landlords, slumlords if you will, wanna make a buck and they put up these illegal walls. They not only endanger firefighters but people who live there because it blocks fire escapes, hinders operation. It hides fire," said Cool.

A few years before the fire, the fire department did away with personal safety ropes for firefighters saying they were too bulky. Cool was a vocal critic of that decision.

"There are these people who go out and make our job more hazardous than it already is. So any tool we have in our toolbox is a good tool to have," said Cool.

Cool had a safety rope he bought with his own money and used it to get part of the way down the building before he fell.

After the fire, he pleaded with Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta to bring them back, which he did.

Four years later, Cool said his life is still in disarray -- injuries from his fall have stopped him from returning to the job he loved.

"But I'm the lucky guy. I'm here and two of my brothers are not. That's why I'm here. I'm here to fight and speak for them and their families," said Cool.

Defense attorneys tried to get Cool to explain why he stayed on the fourth floor for 10 minutes when he knew his fellow firefighters were having trouble getting water on the fire.

Cool said by the time he realized the extent of the danger it was too late to get out. They also grilled him about lawsuits he is involved in.

He is suing the building owner and the city.