FDNY Line of Duty Deaths
https://www.facebook.com/fireservicelineofdutydeaths/#January 10, 1908 - LODD
Fireman George A. O'Conner - Engine 72
Fireman Thomas F. Phillips - Engine 72
FDNY. Manhattan, New York
A five-alarm fire originated on the sixth floor of a 12-story commercial building. After being superheated and then struck by fire streams, the steel columns supporting the upper floors suddenly buckled, collapsing eight floors into the cellar. Firemen O'Conner and Phillips, and a member of the Fire Patrol were carried down into the cellar and crushed to death under tons of rubble. A total of 50 other firefighters were injured in the collapse, many seriously.
This five-alarm fire started around 7 o’clock on the sixth floor of the twelve-story Parker Building. At the height of the blaze, the buildings across 19th Street caught fire. The hotel across the alley had over 200 guests and was evacuated. On the second floor the members of Fire Patrol 1 and 2 were operating. Engines 12, 16, 18 and 72 were operating at different locations on the fifth floor. The steel girders of the eighth floor gave way, crashing into the basement taking parts of the floors with it. The crews of Engines 12, 16, and 18 were rescued right away. On the other side of the building, the members of Engine 72 were operating when the floors collapsed and they were trapped. A ladder bridge was placed between the hotel and the fire building. All the men got out and when they got down to the street it was learned that Firemen Thomas F. Phillips and George A. O’Connor were still missing. Captain Davin stated he had his hand on O’Connor and was dragging him toward the window when something came crashing down and crushed his hand and forced O’Connor away from him. Lacking in strength, Captain Davin had to be rescued by someone else. The members of the Fire Patrol were also trapped in the collapse and Patrolman John Fallon was killed. (From "The Last Alarm" by Boucher, Urbanowicz & Melahn, 2006)
RIP. Never forget.
