FDNY (BFD) Line of Duty Death
January 20, 1880 - LODD
Captain William Baldwin, 36
Engine 216
City of Brooklyn Fire Department.
Williamsburg - Brooklyn , New York
On January 14, 1880 at 7am, a fire broke out at old Bushwick Avenue in Otto Huber's Brewery. Engine 16 assisted in fighting the flames. The fire was under control in a half hour. Without any warning one end of the building collapsed. Six firemen, including Captain Baldwin, were buried in debris. Firemen worked to rescue them. All of them were recovered except Captain Baldwin. After Captain Baldwin was finally recovered he was taken to St. Catherine's Hospital where he died 6 days later. Captain Baldwin was an eight year veteran of the department at the time of his death.
Foreman William Baldwin was the Foreman of Brooklyn Engine 16 (now FDNY Engine 216) for five years before he met his death. It was 7:00, when his company responded to a fire at the Otto Huber Brewery, on old Bushwick Avenue. In half an hour, the fire was under control when, without warning, one end of the building collapsed. Six firemen, including Baldwin, were buried in the debris. Willing hands rescued them and all recovered with the exception of Baldwin. His head, back and body were severally cut and bruised. He died six days later in St. Catherine's Hospital. He left a wife and three children to mourn his loss. (from The Last Alarm, by Boucher, Urbanowicz & Melahn)
RIP. Never forget.
