5/26/1828 a Manhattan, New York firefighter died in a building collapse during a fire. “In just a few minutes, an arson fire, which had been set in a livery stable, had spread to six or seven frame dwellings. Despite the valiant efforts of firefighters to stop the further spread of the flames, the fire then spread to a theater through the wooden cornice. The building rapidly became fully involved, resulting in the collapse of the roof and walls shortly after. As a wall and the cornice fell to the street, the firefighter was caught under it and was crushed to death. It was weeks before his mangled body was dug out of the rubble.”
5/26/1836 a Manhattan, New York firefighter was killed while operating at a fire.
5/26/1930 a District of Columbia (Washington DC) firefighter died “while trying to locate the seat of a fire at the Stein’s Store Fixture Factory at #120 Q Street N.E. He was blinded by the dense smoke and fell down an open elevator shaft. He suffered a severe skull fracture and was killed.”
5/26/1936 “While operating at a 20,000-acre forest fire that swept through the Pine Barrens in two New Jersey counties, five firefighters were killed, and six others seriously burned, when a wall of fire swept over their position. The six men that were injured were also CCC men and were all hospitalized with serious burns.”
5/26/1958 two Highland Park, NJ firefighters were two of more than 100 firefighters who responded to a fire that erupted at Ten Broeck Motors Inc., 209-211 Woodbridge Ave., a few minutes after midnight. Armed with a fire hose, the two men ascended to the roof and fought the flames from above. Before the firefighters could control the massive blaze, the roof caved in and eventually collapsed. The two firefighters plummeted into the burning structure, falling onto fiery debris and broken glass.”
5/26/1971 a Calgary, Alberta, Canada firefighter ”while aggressively attacking a fire in Suite #12, 2nd-floor rear of the McTavish Block, 815 Macleod Trail SE and after making a rescue of an occupant, the firefighter indicated he was having difficulties and while attempting to leave the fire area, collapsed. He was removed to the street and given resuscitation. The ambulance in attendance took him to the Calgary General Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 24:00.”
5/26/1982 an Ashville, North Carolina firefighter died of trauma injuries after being trapped
5/26/1897 Hermantown, MN, seven miles from Duluth, a farmer was thawing dynamite, to be used in clearing his land, over a fire when it exploded killing him and his two young sons and injured his wife and another small son.
5/26/1954 the USS Bennington fire killed 103 off Rhode Island coast.
5/26/1991 a plane crashed in Thai jungle that killed 223.
5/26/1985 explosions destroyed two tankers off of Gibraltar, 30 died.
5/26/1945 the U.S. started to drop fire bombs on Tokyo