Two Philadelphia Firefighters Killed, Two Injured in Five-Alarm Fire

Two firefighters were killed and two others seriously injured today battling a five-alarm fire that tore through an aging Philadelphia warehouse and spread to a nearby furniture store.

The firefighters were trapped in a collapse at the furniture store that started burning after embers from the warehouse at East York and Jasper Streets set a fire, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer (http://bit.ly/HDyAUc).

The firefighters who died were assigned to Ladder 10, officials told the paper. According to a Facebook posting by Ladder 10, the victims were Lieutenant Robert Neary, 60, and Firefighter Daniel Sweeney, 25.

Neary had 38 years on the department. He was a lieutenant since 1983, and was awarded four unit citations in his career. Before joining the fire department, he was a Philadelphia police officer for three years and an Army reservist for 10 years, attaining the rank on Sgt 1st class. He leaves behind his wife Diane and their three children.

Sweeney followed his father, retired captain David Sweeney, and joined the Philadelphia Fire Department in July of 2006. He was stationed at Ladder 10 since 2007. Daniel was awarded two unit citations in his career. Daniel was the loving son of his parents, David and Marian Sweeney

The two injured firefighters were taken to Temple University Hospital.

The fire was reported about 3 a.m. and declared under control around 6 a.m.

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/HDyAUc

Philadelphia officals said the vacant warehouse had been cited for fire code violations several times and court action was in the offing when the building was hit by the massive fire that led to the firefighters’ deaths s in a collapse at an adjacent furniture store where the flames had spread. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that authorities will be looking into whether a criminal negligence case was warranted in the fire (http://bit.ly/HvdNYn).

UPDATE: Officials promise to conduct a careful review of dozens of other large buildings across the city, reports The Associated Press. (http://bit.ly/IpRt16)

Funeral arrangements for the fallen firefighters have been released. CLICK HERE for full info.

 

Video below is from a press conference about the firefighters’ deaths:

Four Firefighters Hurt in Fire in Abandoned Harlem (NY) Building

Four firefighters were injured battling a massive fire that tore through an abandoned Harlem building where jazz icon Billie Holiday reportedly once lived.