FDNY Line of Duty Death
January 28, 1927 - LODD
Captain John S. Roberts, 45
Engine 15
FDNY. Manhattan, New York
Captain Roberts died of gas asphyxiation, and many other firemen were overcome by illuminating gas and smoke, while operating at a fire in a five-story tenement at 22 Mangin Street.
Advertisement
John S. Roberts
BIRTH1881DEATH28 Jan 1927 (aged 45–46)New York County (Manhattan), New York, USA
BURIAL
Cypress Hills Cemetery
Brooklyn, Kings County (Brooklyn), New York, USAMEMORIAL ID139133866 · View Source
SHARE
SAVE TO
SUGGEST EDITSTOGGLE DROPDOWN
Captain John S. Roberts of Engine 15 was overcome by illuminating gas at a small fire at 22 Mangin Street. Captain Roberts had worked the night before at the Goerck Street fire that killed three firemen. He had just walked out of the Goerck Street building when it collapsed. He worked all night digging through the rubble for his fallen brothers. He was told to go sick but returned back to quarters and remained on duty. The fire at 22 Mangin Street was in a six-story tenement on the third floor. Captain Roberts led his men into the fire apartment and found the bedroom ablaze. The fitting for the gas line to the light had melted and the gas was escaping into the room. The fire was almost out when Captain Roberts fell unconscious and died shortly after being removed from the building. He lived in Brooklyn, was forty-five years old and a member of the Department for twenty-three years. (From "The Last Alarm" by Boucher, Urbanowicz & Melahn, 2007)
RIP. Never forget.
E 15 previous firehouse
