FDNY Line of Duty Death
January 27, 1927 - LODD
FDNY. Manhattan, New York
Fireman Joseph A. Heslin, 40 - Engine 9
Fireman Edward J. Fox, 38 - Fireboat 77
Fireman John M. Graue, 35 - Fireboat 77
While operating at a three alarm fire at 144 Goerck Street, they were all killed and 19 other firemen were injured, some seriously, when the floor of a burning seven story rag shop collapsed. After the collapse, extra truck companies were special-called to aid in digging out the men, who were crushed and trapped under tons of debris.
Fireman Joseph A. Heslin of Engine 9 and Firemen Edward J. Fox #1 and John M. Graue of Engine 77 were killed when the third, fourth and fifth floors collapsed in this three-alarm fire. The seven-story building at 144 Goerck Street contained bales of shoddy and clippings piled ceiling high. A thirty-foot section of the seventh floor collapsed under the weight of the bales. The beams were pulled from their socket, collapsing the floor. Members of Engine 9 and the members of the fireboat New Yorker (Engine 77) were operating on the third floor and the fire was almost out when the seventh floor let go without warning. Eleven men were carried down to the second floor under tons of debris. Several members crawled to a window and were rescued by ladders. Firemen Fox and Graue were both breathing when found but were buried a second time when debris from the floor above landed on them. After digging them out a second time they were both found dead. At 6:00 the next morning, Fireman Heslin was found dead and he was still holding on to the nozzle. (From "The Last Alarm" by Boucher, Urbanowicz & Melahn, 2007)
RIP. Never forget.
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