Harlem 4th Alarm Pathe Sound Studio 10 Fatalities 12-10-1929

[mack]

12-10-29    4th Alarm  Pathe Sound Studioes        134th St and Park Avenue

Panic and failure to use emergency exits resulted in 10 fatalities.  Reported explosions during fire.  Many rescues made.



Details of fire:
http://vitaphone.blogspot.com/2006/12/after-show.html


Responding 1st alarm units maybe:  E 35, E 36, E 59, E 69, L 14, L 28, Bn 12  (maybe E 59, E 60, L 29, L 30 from Bronx) - thanks 3511 and GMan

 

[3511]

Great report, Mack. Never heard of that incident And my dad worked in ladder 14 for years.

As to the response, Engine 36 was missing; Likely second due. Don't think engine 37 wanders that far East. Maybe it was a typo.

G-man will tell the tale.
.

 

[guitarman314]

Great report, Mack. Never heard of that incident And my dad worked in ladder 14 for years.

As to the response, Engine 36 was missing; Likely second due. Don't think engine 37 wanders that far East. Maybe it was a typo.

G-man will tell the tale.
.

  I don't have that card but I would venture to say the box was 1549 now located at Park Ave. & 135th St. and based on neighboring cards the response might have been: E87(Fireboat stationed across the street @135th St & Harlem River), E36(1849 Park @127th St.), E59(180 W. 137th St.), E35(221 E. 119th St.), L30(104 W. 135th St.), L14(120 E. 125th St.), Bn12. On the 2nd alarm you'd get E60(352 E. 137th St.), E69, E58, and L26. I have a card here for box 1537 @Park & 132 dated 2/1959 after E60 moved to L17, also note that L26 was a double co. 

 

[3511]

Run card from 1924 Assignment book. Units located where G-man had 'em.

 

[mack]

Thanks 3511 - and G Man. 

 

[guitarman314]

Run card from 1924 Assignment book. Units located where G-man had 'em.

  Hey 3511, notice how companies didn't travel too far to relocate, they had move-ups so there were two companies relocating to fill the first. Also note double companies were the prime relocators back then: E23/58 then E26(2)/23; L13/14 then L2(2)/L13; E44/36 then E5(2)/E44; E16(2)/E22; L35(2)/40 then L21(2)/L35(2).

 

[jmag228]

A fire described as very similar to this blaze is used in one of Harry Ahearn's books. The Donnovan's if I recall correctly.