| Engine 16 Ladder 7 23rd Street Fire 1966 |
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Box 598 at 2136 hrs: Before 9-11-01, the most deadly building collapse in the history 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.
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.
Battalion 4 Joseph Priore Lieutenant (Detailed to Eng. 18)
Ladder 7 John J. Finley Lieutenant
Ladder 7 John G. Berry Fireman
Ladder 7 Rudolph F. Kaminsky Fireman
Ladder 7 Carl Lee Fireman
Engine 18 James V. Galanaugh Fireman
Engine 18 Joseph Kelly II Fireman (Proby)
Engine 18 Bernard A. Tepper Fireman
October 17, 1966
Box 605 Fifth Avenue and 22nd Street
Twelve Firemen were killed when a floor collapsed at 6 East 23rd Street in a commercial
building just East of Broadway. The fire started in a four story Brown Stone at 7 East
22nd Street where the rear and side walls abut on the three story white brick commercial
building to the West at 940-948 Broadway and the five story brown brick building to the
North at 6 East 23rd Street, where the twelve firemen died. On the main floor of the drug
store at 6 East 23rd Street, there was but little smoke and evidence of fire. Directing the
men on this floor were experienced fire officers, Deputy Chief Reilly and Battalion Chief
Higgins as well as two Lieutenants in charge of two Companies. The two companies
began to hack away at the walls and two hose lines were brought into the ground floor of
the Drugstore. All at once with a thundering crash, a 20-by-5 foot section of the floor
gave way. There was a burst of flames that rolled along the ceiling of the drugstore and
flared out into the Street. Ten men who were at the rear of the drugstore attacking the
wall that abutted the brownstone to the South fell into the fire below. Two others trapped
by the burst of flames caused by the collapse of the floor, were burned to death on the
main floor of the drugstore.
Lieutenant John J. Finley of Ladder Company 7, was 54 years of age. He joined the
department on May 1, 1937, appointed Lieutenant on November 10, 1962 and was
married with four children.
Fireman John G. Berry of Ladder Company 7, was 32 years old and appointed to the
department on December 9, 1961. He was married with two children.
Fireman Rudolph F. Kaminsky of Ladder Company 7, was 33 years of age and was
appointed the department on June 14, 1958. He served in the Korean war and was
married with three children.
Fireman Carl Lee of Ladder Company 7 was 29 years old and was appointed to the fire
department on February 20, 1960. He was married with two children.
Ladder 7 John J. Finley Lieutenant
Ladder 7 John G. Berry Fireman
Ladder 7 Rudolph F. Kaminsky Fireman
Ladder 7 Carl Lee Fireman
Engine 18 James V. Galanaugh Fireman
Engine 18 Joseph Kelly II Fireman (Proby)
Engine 18 Bernard A. Tepper Fireman
October 17, 1966
Box 605 Fifth Avenue and 22nd Street
Twelve Firemen were killed when a floor collapsed at 6 East 23rd Street in a commercial
building just East of Broadway. The fire started in a four story Brown Stone at 7 East
22nd Street where the rear and side walls abut on the three story white brick commercial
building to the West at 940-948 Broadway and the five story brown brick building to the
North at 6 East 23rd Street, where the twelve firemen died. On the main floor of the drug
store at 6 East 23rd Street, there was but little smoke and evidence of fire. Directing the
men on this floor were experienced fire officers, Deputy Chief Reilly and Battalion Chief
Higgins as well as two Lieutenants in charge of two Companies. The two companies
began to hack away at the walls and two hose lines were brought into the ground floor of
the Drugstore. All at once with a thundering crash, a 20-by-5 foot section of the floor
gave way. There was a burst of flames that rolled along the ceiling of the drugstore and
flared out into the Street. Ten men who were at the rear of the drugstore attacking the
wall that abutted the brownstone to the South fell into the fire below. Two others trapped
by the burst of flames caused by the collapse of the floor, were burned to death on the
main floor of the drugstore.
Lieutenant John J. Finley of Ladder Company 7, was 54 years of age. He joined the
department on May 1, 1937, appointed Lieutenant on November 10, 1962 and was
married with four children.
Fireman John G. Berry of Ladder Company 7, was 32 years old and appointed to the
department on December 9, 1961. He was married with two children.
Fireman Rudolph F. Kaminsky of Ladder Company 7, was 33 years of age and was
appointed the department on June 14, 1958. He served in the Korean war and was
married with three children.
Fireman Carl Lee of Ladder Company 7 was 29 years old and was appointed to the fire
department on February 20, 1960. He was married with two children.