pfont size4Today we take time to remember the 12 members of the FDNY who were lost in the Wonder Drug Store fire on 23rd Street on October 17 1966.nbsp This day was the second largest loss for the FDNY after 911.fontppfont size4Below is a summary of the incident as reported by Vincent Dunn Ret. FDNY Lt.fontppnbspppfont size4The 23 street Collapsefontb bppBox 598 at 2136 hrs 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.ppLocation of Fire Origin Cellar of 7 East 22 St.ppLocation of Collapse First floor of Exposure 3 building 6 East 23 St. quotThe Wonder Drug Store.quotppFire 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.ppCollapse Building Construction 6 East 23 St a five story 45 x 100 commercial building brick amp joist construction. The rear 16 x 35 foot section of the first floor collapsed into the cellar occupied by 7 East 22 St.ppdirdirpAlterationspp1 The fire building 7 East 22 St had a two story extension which abutted the rear of 6 East 23 St.pp alignjustify2 The Cellar of 7 East 22 St extended under the first floor of 6 East 23 St for approximately 35 feet.pp3 The floor construction of 6 East 23 St was 3quot x 14quot wood beams topped by 34quot wood planking. On top of this five inches of concrete with a terrazzo finish was added.pdirdirppThe 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.ppCause of the .Fire Unknown.ppCause of the Collapse The fire burned for one hour which reduced theppsize and strength of the wood floor beams.ppFuel of Fire Large storage of wood picture frames and their combustible finish lacquer and paint.ppTime of Collapse The collapse occurred at approximately 2239 hrs one hour and three minutes after the initial alarm of 2136 hrs.ppbpSummary by Vincent Dunn Deputy Chief FDNY Division 3 Retpbppa hrefhttpnyfd.comhistory23rdstreet23rdstreet.htmlhttpnyfd.comhistory23rdstreet23rdstreet.htmlappnbspppOctober 171966 Box 55 598ppKilled in the line of dutyppnbspppnbspppDC Thomas A Reilly Division .3ppBC Walter J Higgins Battalion. 7ppLt John J Finley Ladder 7ppLt Joseph Priore Engine 18ppFr John G Berry Ladder 7ppFr James V Galanaugh Engine 18ppFr Rudolph F Kaminsky Ladder 7ppFr Joseph Kelly Engine 18ppFr Carl Lee Ladder 7ppFr William F McCarron Division 3ppFr Daniel L Rey Engine 18ppFr Bernard A Tepper Engine 18p
