Members who lost their lives in the line of duty Christmas Eve and Christmas Day:
FIREFIGHTER JAMES F. CALNAN ENGINE 34 December 25, 1897
He was killed when the apparatus overturned while responding to an alarm. James F. Calnan was the son of William and Mary Calnan. He was of Irish descent, born in London, England of an Irish father and an English mother. James immigrated to America on 7 Jun 1870 along with his mother and four other siblings. In February of 1891, James was appointed fireman, Engine Company 13, at 99 Wooster St. in New York City. James married Sarah Jane Forrester and had issue: John, Elsie Marie and Ruth. James was killed on Christmas Day morning when the engine he was driving overturned and crushed him to death. He was trying to avoid a petrified woman and her child who were standing in the street, and when he swerved to avoid them, the wheel of the engine hit the curbstone and the engine fell on top of him. Many, many articles appear in various New York newspapers giving praise to his heroism and sacrifice. His wife, Sarah died just four years later in 1901. Son, John, died in 1904; Ruth died in 1898. They are all interred in Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, New York and none of the family have headstones. A memorial plaque honors James F. Calnan on the New York Fire Department Memorial Wall in Brooklyn. (From "The Last Alarm")
FIREFIGHTER JOSEPH FINGER LADDER 29 December 25, 1906
Fireman Joseph Finger was driving Ladder 29 back to quarters from a fire at 271 Ryder Avenue. While turning from St. Ann?s Avenue onto East 138th Street the horses bolted. Fireman Finger, not wearing a seat belt, was jerked from his seat to the ground and the wheels passed over him. Six other fireman were injured, none seriously. Once at Lincoln Hospital, doctors discovered that Fireman Finger suffered from internal injuries and six fractured ribs. He died shortly after arriving at the hospital. (From "The Last Alarm")
FIREFIGHTER BERNARD O'KANE ENGINE 227 December 25, 1927
After spending the day before putting up the Christmas tree with his family, Fireman Bernard O?Kane fell off an ice-covered roof while fighting a fire at 1015 to 1017 Putnam Avenue. He was instantly killed in the sixty-foot fall to the courtyard. A member of the Department for thirty-eight months he was married and the father of two small children. (From "The Last Alarm")
FIREFIGHTER THOMAS BARRAGRY ENGINE 241 December 24, 1938
Fireman Thomas H. Barragry of Engine 241 died of a heart attack after fighting a rubbish fire in the Long Island Railroad Freight Yard at Second Avenue and 65th Street. He was fifty-one years old and born in Country Limerick, Ireland. He was appointed to the Fire Department on August 1, 1920. He was married with three daughters. (From "The Last Alarm")
LIEUTENANT JOHN A. LYDEN ENGINE 240 December 24, 1949
20-year veteran - He died as a result of severe smoke inhalation sustained the previous day, while operating at a single-alarm fire.
FIREFIGHTER JOSEPH T. MANNINO ENGINE 219 December 24, 1953
Fireman Joseph T. Mannino of Engine 219 was run over by a truck as he was crossing Atlantic Avenue while he was on Building Inspection duty. He was a member of the Fire Department for fourteen years and was forty years old. He left a widow and a two year old child. (From "The Last Alarm")
CAPTAIN VINCENT J. McGILL ENGINE 96 December 25, 1955
He died as a result of injuries sustained while operating at an alarm.
LIEUTENANT EUGENE R. MILLER LADDER 109 December 25, 1968
21-year veteran - He died as a result of critical burns sustained while operating at a single-alarm fire on November 30th.
RIP. Never forget.
God bless all who protect others - Christmas and every day.