NYSHFCA BOARD ROOM

Board Meeting-January DATE TO BE DETERMINED

UFA Headquarters – 23rd Street – 6:00pm

NYSHFCA Golf Outing 2016

The Annual NYSHFCA Golf Outing was a great success and raised enough money to cover 8 additional scholarships. Thanks to all who attended.

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Wooster Street Fire February 14, 1958

REMEMBERING THE FDNY AND FIRE PATROL OF NEW YORK LODD’s-Feb 14, 1958

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FDNY Firefighters venting the roof, and 4 member of NY Fire Patrol # 1 placing salvage covers were buried alive when all floors and the roof suddenly collapsed in a Manhattan fire. It was on Wooster Street in a burning 6 story, 80 x 100 foot, heavy timber construction, loft building in “Hells’ hundred acres” lower Manhattan. The fire occurred at 2215 hours in the baled paper storage building.

Killed In The Line Of Duty Were:

Fire Patrol # 1, Sergeant Michael McGee-FPNY
Fire Patrol # 1, Patrolman Louis Brusati-FPNY
Fire Patrol # 1, Patrolman James Devine-FPNY
Fire Patrol # 1, Patrolman Michael Tracy-FPNY
Ladder Co. # 10, FF Bernard Blumenthal-FDNY
Ladder Co. # 1, William Schimd-FDNY

A Fifth Alarm as well as special calls for additional manpower were utilized in the search and rescue operations to recover the 6 members, At the time, there was 9 inches of snow as well as temperatures in the single digits. RIP.

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The 23rd. Street Fire, October 17, 1966.

10-17-66

 The Wonder Drug Store 6 East 23 Street
The Wonder Drug Store 6 East 23 Street

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 October 21,1966 Saint Patick's Cathedral

October 21,1966 Saint Patick’s Cathedral

The 23 street Collapse October 17,1966 Box 55 598 Killed in the line of duty

DC Thomas A Reilly, Division .3

BC Walter J Higgins, Battalion. 7

Lt John J Finley, Ladder 7

Lt Joseph Priore, Engine 18

Fr John G Berry, Ladder 7

Fr James V Galanaugh, Engine 18

Fr Rudolph F Kaminsky, Ladder 7

Fr Joseph Kelly, Engine 18

Fr Carl Lee Ladder, 7

Fr William F McCarron, Division 3

Fr Daniel L Rey, Engine 18

Fr Bernard A Tepper, Engine 18

Box 598 at 2136 hrs: The most deadly building collapse (prior to 9/11) of the Fire Department occurred at this alarm. Twelve firefighters were killed when the floor collapsed into the cellar. Two chiefs, two lieutenants, and six firefighters plunged into the flaming cellar. Two firefighters were killed by the blast of flame and heat on the first floor.

Location of Fire Origin: Cellar of 7 East 22 St.

Location of Collapse: First floor of Exposure 3 building: 6 East 23 St. “The Wonder Drug Store.”

Fire Building Construction: 7 East 22 St: a brownstone, 20 x 60 brick and joist, four story residence. The cellar, where the fire started, and first floor were occupied by an art dealer.

Collapse Building Construction: 6 East 23 St: a five story, 45 x 100 commercial building, brick & joist construction. The rear, 16 x 35 foot, section of the first floor collapsed into the cellar occupied by 7 East 22 St.

Alterations:

(1) The fire building, 7 East 22 St, had a two story extension which abutted the rear of 6 East 23 St.

(2) The Cellar of 7 East 22 St extended under the first floor of 6 East 23 St for approximately 35 feet.

(3) The floor construction of 6 East 23 St was 3″ x 14″ wood beams topped by 3/4″ wood planking. On top of this five inches of concrete with a terrazzo finish was added.

The firefighters in exposure 3, (6 East 23 St), killed in the collapse did not know they were operating directly over the cellar fire in 7 East 22 St. The five inch concrete terrazzo floor acted as an insulator. It concealed the severe fire and heat below. The 3 inch x 14 inch floor beams spaced 16 inches on center were reduced in size and strength by the fire. The first sign of weakness was the sudden collapse of a 15 x 35 foot section, which plunged the ten firefighters to their deaths. Two other firefighters were killed on the first floor by a ball of flame.

Cause of the Fire: Unknown.

Cause of the Collapse: The fire burned for one hour, which reduced the size and strength of the wood floor beams.

Fuel of Fire: Large storage of wood picture frames and their combustible finish, lacquer and paint.

Time of Collapse: The collapse occurred at approximately 2239 hrs, one hour and three minutes after the initial alarm of 2136 hrs.

Summary by: Vincent Dunn, Deputy Chief, FDNY, Division 3 (Ret)

For further reading:

W N Y F, 2ND Issue 1973: Page 13 Article by Joseph D’Albert, Eng. 24.
W N Y F, 4th Issue 1976: ‘THE 23rd ST FIRE… as it happened’ by Frank

Cull.THE SIXTH BATTALION OFFICIAL REPORT: BOARD OF INQUIRY

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FDNY Commemorates the 42nd Anniversary of the 23rd Street Fire

Chief of Department Salvatore Cassano, First Deputy Fire Commissioner Frank Cruthers and Deputy Assistant Chief Richard Tobin laid a wreath to commemorate the 42nd Anniversary of the 23rd Street fire. Numerous active and retired members took part in the ceremony, including FF Brian Finley (far left) and retired Capt. Manny Fernandez (fourth from the right).
Chief of Department Salvatore Cassano, First Deputy Fire Commissioner Frank Cruthers and Deputy Assistant Chief Richard Tobin laid a wreath to commemorate the 42nd Anniversary of the 23rd Street fire. Numerous active and retired members took part in the ceremony, including FF Brian Finley (far left) and retired Capt. Manny Fernandez (fourth from the right).

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Firefighters, FDNY families and other members of the Department joined on October 17 for a wreath laying ceremony to commemorate the 42nd anniversary of the 23rd Street fire.

The five-alarm fire on October 17, 1966, began in the Wonder Drug Store on the corner of 23rd Street and Broadway. It took the lives of 12 members, representing the single worst loss of New York City firefighters in the line of duty prior to September 11, 2001.

“We want to make certain that the memories of these 12 men are never forgotten,” said Chief of Department Salvatore Cassano.

Twelve members of every rank, from a probationary firefighter to a deputy chief, made the Supreme Sacrifice when the ground floor of the store collapsed. The fire originated in a storage area, which was concealed by a four-inch thick cinderblock wall illegally constructed by the building’s previous owner.

Numerous firefighters who operated at the 23rd Street fire or who worked with those who died attended the ceremony.
Numerous firefighters who operated at the 23rd Street fire or who worked with those who died attended the ceremony.

Those killed in the fire included Deputy Chief Thomas A. Reilly and Firefighter William F. McCarron, both of Division 3; Battalion Chief Walter J. Higgins of Battalion 7; Lieutenant Joseph Priore, Firefighter James V. Galanaugh, Firefighter Joseph Kelly, Firefighter Daniel L. Rey and Firefighter Bernard A. Tepper, all of Engine Company 18; and Lieutenant John J. Finley, Firefighter John G. Berry, Firefighter Rudolph F. Kaminsky and Firefighter Carl Lee, all of Ladder Company 7.

“These men did their job that night and they did it well,” said retired Captain Manuel Fernandez, who operated at the tragic fire when he was a firefighter at Engine 18. “We will always remember them and their families for the sacrifice they made. This is the greatest job in the world and we have wonderful men and women in this Department.”

Several other retired members who responded to the fire or worked with those who died attended the ceremony. They stood alongside dozens of active members as the 12 names were read and the wreath was placed beside the memorial plaque.

Among the members at the ceremony was Firefighter Brian Finley of Ladder 7. His grandfather was killed in the 23rd Street fire nearly seven years before he was born, but said he has been told by many that he was a “tough, but fair, lieutenant.”

He said he was honored that so many of his fellow firefighters took part in the ceremony.

“None of these [active members] knew the firefighters who died, but they are here to honor their memory. That’s what the Department is all about.”

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NYSHFCA Officers and Board of Directors

Glenn Zagoren

President   

David Gold, Esq.

1st Vice President & Counsel

Michael Kulp

2nd Vice President

Kurt Schlossberg

3rd Vice President

Riccardo Vasta

Secretary

Howard Borkan

Chairman

Don Epstein

Vice-Chairman

Edward Lentol
Michael Hill (deceased)

Presidents Emeritus

DIRECTORS

James Darmos

George Fina

Peter Lotfi, MD

Sam Fresina, Ex Officio

John Rinaldi

Eli Sitt

Aaron Sirulnick

Mark DeFazio

Sam Ahmad

Edmond Sardar

Vincent F. Pitta, Esq.

Anthony Giardina

Mayor Bloomberg and FDNY present NYSHFCA Medal

From left to right: Jonathon Gold-NYSHFCA, David Gold-NYSHFCA, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, Medal recipient Lt James F. Congema, Chief of Dept Salvatore J Cassano.

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Photos by Butch Moran