FDNY Line of Duty Death
https://www.facebook.com/fireservicelineofdutydeaths/#January 4, 1918 - LODD
Fireman John J. Frein, 36
E 65
FDNY. Manhattan, New York
Fireman Frein died while operating on the third floor of 305 E. 43rd Street. On the fifth floor was a 6-ton safe resting on fire-damaged timbers. This caused the fourth and fifth floors to collapse to the third floor. The company was pinned in the collapse. Fireman Frein was killed instantly in the collapse which also injured the rest of the crew.
Fireman John J. Frein was killed when the roof of a five-story building at 305 East 43rd Street collapsed into the third floor trapping several members of Engine 65. Captain Howard Ruch and members of Engine 65 were operating a line of hose on the third floor when without warning the sound of breaking beams was heard. Captain Ruch shouted for the men to run to a window but three were too slow and were trapped under tons of debris. Two of the men were pulled out quickly. Fireman Frein took longer and when found only a boot was showing from the pile of rubble. One fireman was trying to dig him out and was overcome by smoke. He was removed and soon after more of the roof collapsed covering Frein's boots. His remains could not be recovered until after this three-alarm fire was extinguished. Fireman Frein and his family lived around the corner from the fire building at 972 Second Avenue. His ten year old son, John J. Frien, Jr. was at the three-alarm fire when his father was killed. His wife Catherine lost twin girls just weeks after they were born, three months before losing her husband. She became a matron at Engine 65; a position she held for fifty years. (from The Last Alarm, by Boucher, Urbanowicz, Melahn)
RIP. Never forget.