FDNY Marks 60th Anniversary of the Third Avenue Collapse in the Bronx with Plaque Dedication Ceremony
April 4, 2016
On Monday, April 04, 2016, Commissioner Nigro, FDNY members and families gathered in the Bronx to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Third Avenue Collapse, which took the lives of six Firefighters in 1956. This fire was the greatest loss of Firefighters at a single incident in the Bronx in the Department’s 150-year history.FDNY members responded to 4085 Third Avenue in the evening on April 4, 1956 for a report of a fire in a furniture store. The fire had been burning for some time prior to Firefighters’ arrival, allowing it to spread significantly throughout the building and making it especially difficult to fight. While battling the fire, the building’s iron-framed marquee gave way collapsing to the street below, killing Lieutenant John Molloy and Firefighters Edward Carroll and Fred Hellauer of Engine 48; Firefighters William Hoolan and Arthur Hanson of Ladder 44; and Firefighter Charles Infosino, aide to the Assistant Chief on scene.
“They died doing a job they loved, honoring their sworn oaths to protect life and property,” said Commissioner Nigro. “Six decades later, we stand together, members of the same Department they proudly served. Generations of Firefighters have served and retired since their death, but no matter the amount of time that has passed, we make certain their memory lives on.”
At the ceremony, a plaque listing the names of each Firefighter who made the supreme sacrifice was unveiled on the wall of a new warehouse that now occupies the property.
“I’m very impressed that his whole (plaque) project was begun by younger members of the Fire Department. It’s an unbelievable tradition,” said Susan Hellauer, daughter of Firefighter Fred Hellauer. She was only five years old when her father died.
In addition to many family members of the six Firefighters, the ceremony was heavily attended by active and retired members of the companies in which they served.
“It’s important that we have so many of our Firefighters here for this ceremony, not only from the companies that lost members, but from the surrounding companies that also responded,” said Chief of Department James Leonard. “Everyone is here to show support because it doesn’t matter that we never worked with these members, it only matters that they were a part of our family.”
Chief Leonard remarked that the night before the ceremony, at a 5-alarm fire in Brooklyn, current Firefighters made mention of the Third Avenue Collapse’s 60th anniversary on radio transmissions, reminding every member operating about the collapse that took so many lives, and to maintain situational awareness of the potential for a building collapse.
“We can learn from this collapse and the memory of these six Firefighters will inspire us to action,” added Chief Leonard.
“This was a disaster that affected the entire Bronx community,” said Deputy Chief Jay Jonas, the master of ceremonies for the event. “Considering the number of fires that have occurred here in FDNY history, that makes this a significant event for anyone who ever fought fires in the Borough of the Bronx.”