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2 firefighters killed in Philly warehouse fire

mark handler

mark handler

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Location
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April 09, 2012 13:47 GMT

%reldate(2012-04-09T13:31:33

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Two Philadelphia firefighters are dead after a wall collapsed on them while they fought a massive early-morning warehouse fire in Philadelphia.

Fire officials say five firefighters were inside a furniture store adjacent to the vacant warehouse when a wall collapse trapped them Monday morning.

Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers identified the firefighters as a 60-year-old man and a 25-year-old man.

Hot embers whipped by strong winds ignited seven other structures, including six homes. Those fires were extinguished.

Three other firefighters were injured with one admitted to a hospital.

Ayers says the last time the city's fire department lost multiple members in one fire was in 2004.

Police began banging on the doors of nearby homes shortly after the fire was reported. No injuries were reported among the displaced.
 
THE FIREFIGHTERS PRAYER

When I'm called to duty God

wherever flames may rage

give me strength to save a life

whatever be its age

Help me to embrace a little child

before it is too late

or save an older person from

the horror of that fate

Enable me to be alert

to hear the weakest shout

and quickly and efficiently

to put the fire out

I want to fill my calling and

to give the best in me

to guard my neighbor and

protect his property

And if according to your will

I have to lose my life

bless with your protecting hand

my children and my wife.

God bless you brothers, Rest in Peace
 
“I have no ambition in this world but one, and that is to be a fireman. The position may, in the eyes of some, appear to be a lowly one; but we who know the work which the fireman has to do believe that his is a noble calling. There is an adage which says that, "Nothing can be destroyed except by fire." We strive to preserve from destruction the wealth of the world which is the product of the industry of men, necessary for the comfort of both the rich and the poor. We are defenders from fires of the art which has beautified the world, the product of the genius of men and the means of refinement of mankind. But, above all; our proudest endeavor is to save lives of men-the work of God Himself. Under the impulse of such thoughts, the nobility of the occupation thrills us and stimulates us to deeds of daring, even at the supreme sacrifice. Such considerations may not strike the average mind, but they are sufficient to fill to the limit our ambition in life and to make us serve the general purpose of human society.” -Edward F. Croker, Chief of Department, F.D.N.Y. 1899-1911
 
gbhammer,

I apologize.

I was a firefighter in Florida for 15 years, anytime losing a brother/sister, much less two is emotional. it is one of the things firefighters' accept as part of their calling. on average 175 firefighters die in the line of duty every year. of all the jobs I've had over the years it was the most fun and rewarding.
 
I was an instructor for the fire academy that used to be in Boynton Beach, taught lots of firefighters from Dade and Browards counties. I used to spend time down in Miami Beach at the Convention Center, and at the old Orange Bowl
 
GBrackins said:
gbhammer,I was a firefighter in Florida for 15 years, anytime losing a brother/sister, much less two is emotional. it is one of the things firefighters' accept as part of their calling. on average 175 firefighters die in the line of duty every year. of all the jobs I've had over the years it was the most fun and rewarding.
Click to expand...
Losing a brother or a sister is bad-- Come December I will have completed 40 years as an active volunteer. It is getting harder to keep up with the younger ones.

Firefighting goes back 5 generations in my family since my grandmother's grandfather Capt Jarvis resigned his commission under Lee to take Chief of Petersburg during the war in 1863. Through me we have had a Chief in each generation. I ran with my dad and brothers as a teenager and two of my brothers and a sister in law are active volunteers now. Two of my children have taken up the call as volunteers and my son doubles it as a carreer--the nights he is not on duty at work he tends to spend at the volunteer station near his home--it is nice to get paid for something you will do for free.

My dad and I took up fire protection engineering as a profession while volunteering as firefighters. My middle child firefighting daughter is following us in engineering.

The 175 figure is old, it has been under 100 for a number of years now and the majority are cardiac incidents, last couple years majority of trama related have been vehicle accidents.

I worry more about my young daughters when they are out on a date with some young man than when my son or 21 year old middle child is fighting fire with me--given the 1 in 200 odds that a youthful driver will be involved in a fatal accident between 16 and 25.
 
Franik,

what a wonderful family tradition you have, and 40 years on the job is incredible! your community is so lucky to have people like you that are willing to give back so much.

Glad to hear the average of 175 has dropped significantly. That's what it was when I left the job in 1997 to move to Massachusetts.
 
Inspector Guy,

thank you so very much for posting the announcements. I will be unable to attend, but my brother-in-law is a Philly cop, and will be attending. Hopefully they will receive the turnout and respect due their ultimate sacrifice.
 
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