6/18/2007 Charleston, SC nine firefighters were killed when the roof collapsed during a fire in a furniture warehouse. Firefighters went into the building believing it could be kept under control. One employee made it out and a second was rescued, when the roof collapsed hurling … [Read more...]
FIREFIGHTER HISTORY 6/17
6/17/1972 Boston, MA a collapse occurred during a four-alarm fire at the Hotel Vendome, 170 Commonwealth Avenue killed nine and injured eight firefighters. A portion of the rear wall suddenly collapsed during overhaul operations. “Built in 1871 and massively expanded in 1881, the … [Read more...]
FIREFIGHTER HISTORY 6/16
6/16/1875 a Boston, MA firefighter died at a fireworks factory fire. “An explosion of gunpowder occurred at Charles E. Masten’s fireworks factory on Kemble Street, Roxbury. Box 213, (Norfolk Avenue & Hamden Street) was sounded at 2:58 p.m. Five civilians were also killed and … [Read more...]
FIREFIGHTER HISTORY 6/15
6/15/1904 the SS General Slocum steamship fire killed 1,030 in New York, NY after a dangerously overcrowded boat left the dock in Manhattan with a group from St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. A fire was discovered by boy who was told to "shut up and mind your own business" … [Read more...]
FIREFIGHTER HISTORY 6/14
6/14/1954 the 1st nationwide civil defense drill was held. “The drill was organized and evaluated by the Civil Defense Administration, and included operations in 54 cities in the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada. The basic premise of the … [Read more...]
FIREFIGHTER HISTORY 6/13
6/13/1930 a District of Columbia, Washington DC, firefighter died “while operating at a spectacular and smoky four-alarm blaze at Rudolph & West Hardware Store at #1332 New York Avenue N.W. He was killed when the ladder he was on collapsed, pitching him to the pavement below, … [Read more...]
FIREFIGHTER HISTORY 6/12
6/12/1928 a Chicago, IL firefighter died “while fighting a fire on Ellis Avenue. He was overcome by smoke and collapsed while inside the burning building. He was revived on scene, but continued to have difficulty breathing, so he was transported to Billings Memorial Hospital. … [Read more...]