Sad Week For Firefighters

This past week was a sad week for the nation's firefighters as 5 firefighters in Pennsylvania,
New York and West Virginia were killed in the line of duty.
In New York City, a firefighter was killed when he got lost during a 5 alarm fire in a building that a movie was being shot at.
From Statter 911: A New York City firefighter was killed after flames erupted late Thursday night at a Harlem building being used as a set for a movie starring Edward Norton.

The fire broke out in the basement of the building on St. Nicholas Avenue just before 11 p.m.

While backing out of the building, the firefighter was separated from his unit and he was found unconscious.

He was rushed to Harlem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

FDNY Commissioner Dan Nigro identified him as 37-year-old Firefighter Michael Davidson, a 15-year veteran. https://www.statter911.com/2018/03/23/fdny-firefighter-michael-r-davidson-dies-at-harlem-5-alarm-fire-where-movie-was-being-shot/

In York, Pennsylvania, 2 firefighters were killed in a building collapse

From Statter911: Two York firefighters died in Thursday’s collapse of a section of the burned-out hulk of the Weaver Organ and Piano building, York Mayor Michael Helfrich said at a news conference at York City Hall Thursday night.

Zachary Anthony, 29, of York, and Ivan Flanscha, 50, of Red Lion, were the first York firefighters to die in the line of duty since 1971.  

“This is the worst day in my career, this is the worst day for the York City Fire Department,” Fire Chief David Michaels said. “We are totally overwhelmed.” https://www.statter911.com/2018/03/23/firefighters-ivan-flanscha-zachary-anthony-killed-in-york-pa-collapse/

Finally, 2 volunteer firefighters from the Pratt Volunteer Fire Department were killed in a crash while responding to a triple fatality traffic accident.

From Statter911: A Pratt Volunteer Fire Department truck was responding to a triple fatality on the West Virginia Turnpike when the truck flipped against a rock wall, killing at least two firefighters, Kanawha County officials said.

The events of the tragic evening began around 7 p.m. when a vehicle was traveling north in the southbound lanes and wrecked with another vehicle.

“Apparently, a vehicle was traveling the wrong way on the interstate and it wrecked. As a result of that it appears there are three fatalities,” said Capt. Reginald Patterson, spokesman for the West Virginia State Police. https://www.statter911.com/2018/03/24/two-west-virginia-firefighters-dead-3-injured-after-rig-flips/

As a former firefighter, it pains to hear about any firefighter death, but when 5 firefighters are killed in 3 incidents, this will pain thousands upon  thousands of people throughout the whole country.

RIP to the firefighters and prayers to their families, friends and their colleagues.