FDNY Fire Service Line of Duty Deaths
May 6, 1933 - LODD
Fireman John J. Storch Jr., 29
Ladder 6
FDNY. Manhattan, New York
Fireman Storch died as a result of the injuries he sustained the previous day, when he and his company were caught in a roof collapse while operating at a three-alarm fire.
Fireman John J. Storch, Jr. of Ladder 6 and four other members of his company, were operating on the roof of a six-story loft building when the front and side walls collapsed. The roof gave way and three members fell into the burned out hull of the building and were pinned under debris. Two other members slid down the roof to the second floor, then fell to the ground and were injured. Fireman Storch was taken to the hospital in serious condition. He underwent two blood transfusions but it was not enough and he died the next afternoon. The three-alarm fire started on the fourth floor and spread to the roof with the help of a strong wind. The building contained rags that soaked up the water. With this added weight, the floors could not carry the load and collapsed taking the roof with it. (From "The Last Alarm" by Boucher, Urbanowicz & Melahn, 2007)
RIP. Never forget.
