23rd Street Collapse

On the night of the 23 St. Collapse at Manhattan Box 598, I was in the quarters of Ladder 3 on E. 13th St. where I was a Buff, at the time. The meal had just about finished when the box 598 came in. L-3 left, and I went to the housewatch to hear what was going on at the Housewatch Department Radio receiver. When I heard the fire was a, "10-30" the old FDNY signal for a working fire, I got into my car and rushed to the scene.
Heavy smoke enveloped W. 23 St. and it was clear that a serious cellar fire was in progress. I think a 2nd Alarm had already been transmitted and suddenly a large amount of Smoke and Dust blew out of the Wonder Wholesale Drug store, near where I was standing. I saw firemen that had been operating in the cellar and 1st floor, of the Wonder Wholesale Drug Store scramble out of the sidewalk cellar entrance, including members of Ladder 3 and Engine 14. Some the escaping members had no helmets, and their hair was smoking. Those of us standing out in the street used our bare hands or anything else we could to help put out the members singed and smoldering hair. I knew it was very bad when a member of Ladder 3 I knew said to me there are "guys trapped in there" and saw firemen grabbing what they could and trying to reenter the building, to rescue those trapped. I will never forget the bravery of those firemen who tried to go back in to rescue their brothers. The caring I saw is what made me sure that I wanted to in some way be like these brave men. At the time of the W. 23 St. Collapse NO F.A.S.T. OR R.I.T. existed in the FDNY.
On Jan. 27, 1973, I was appointed to the F.D.N.Y. and thought about that night and the love of the "Brothers" for each other.
Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired.
 
On 10/26/68 I was assigned to E 5 from proby school. During that time I worked with members that responded to the 23rd St fire just 2 years before. I believe this is the first time I told this event, two of the members told me that night when the second alarm came in over the bells, E 5 was assigned second due on the second. Their 54 Mack standard shift gasoline engine powered rig wouldn’t start, so they pushed the rig onto the sidewalk and down the decline to the street and popped the clutch, starting the engine. Because of this delay E 18 arrived before E5 and was assigned to the drug store. When 5 arrived their assignment was the cellar of the store along with L 3. When the floor collapsed E 5 and L 3 made it out but the members of 18 were not so lucky.

The members that told me about this were Jim Ronayne and Nick Cicero.

Years later I transferred to L 155 and one of my lieutenants was Walter Clarke who was the chauffeur of L 7 the night of the 23rd St fire and he was a survivor.

Rest Easy guys, it’s been 60 years and may we never forget
 
Lt.Q L112 said:
On 10/26/68 I was assigned to E 5 from proby school. During that time I worked with members that responded to the 23rd St fire just 2 years before. I believe this is the first time I told this event, two of the members told me that night when the second alarm came in over the bells, E 5 was assigned second due on the second. Their 54 Mack standard shift gasoline engine powered rig wouldn’t start, so they pushed the rig onto the sidewalk and down the decline to the street and popped the clutch, starting the engine. Because of this delay E 18 arrived before E5 and was assigned to the drug store. When 5 arrived their assignment was the cellar of the store along with L 3. When the floor collapsed E 5 and L 3 made it out but the members of 18 were not so lucky.

The members that told me about this were Jim Ronayne and Nick Cicero.

Years later I transferred to L 155 and one of my lieutenants was Walter Clarke who was the chauffeur of L 7 the night of the 23rd St fire and he was a survivor.

Rest Easy guys, it’s been 60 years and may we never forget
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When I rode with 132, one of our Lieutenants (Pat Casey) had been assigned to 3 Truck and while awaiting promotion to Lt. was detailed to Engine 5. He was working that night and told how Nick Cicero shouted the warning down to the men in the cellar that something was wrong and to get out of the cellar.
 
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