Incident Date: March 12,1938
Department: Paterson Fire Department (NJ)
Number of Line-of-Duty Deaths: 5
At 1:58 pm on March 12, 1938, the general alarm was sounded for a fire in the warehouse of the Quackenbush Department Store, which was located on Prospect Street, directly behind the store. The store was connected to the warehouse by a tunnel and a second-floor bridge. The warehouse was in two three-story buildings, which contained furniture, bedding, upholstery, and other housewares packed in excelsior. The adjoining building was filled with refrigerators. Arriving firefighters reported heavy yellow smoke and visibility of less than five feet.
The fire grew to 4 alarms. At the height of the fire, every piece of fire apparatus in the city, 13 engines and 3 trucks, and firefighters and units from neighboring communities were on the scene.
While the fire was later brought under control, a wall collapse claimed the lives of five Paterson firefighters including Deputy Chief Sweeney and four from Engine Company 5. Members of Engine 5 included Captain William Devenport, and firefighters William Lynch, Matthew O’Neill, and Louis Rodesky. The crew from Engine 5 were in the process of trying to pull down, the very section of wall that collapse on them.
Thomas Schofield who was in the alley picking up hose and Driver/Engineer Ralph Miller were the only survivors from Engine 5.
Later in a heartbreaking return to headquarters, Engineer Ralph Miller arrived and was met by Chief Coyle. Miller saluted Chief Coyle, announcing “Number 5 returning back to quarters.” The Chief bowed his head and wept. Miller cried, “I’m all alone, Chief.”
Firefighters Who Died in the Collapse:
Related:
- Paterson Fire History: The Quackenbush Warehouse Fire
- Paterson Fire History: Paterson Fire Department LODDs
More About Memorial Monday
Memorial Monday is established to remember the sacrifice of firefighters who died in the line of duty before the National Memorial was created in 1981. On the last Monday of every month, a firefighter, or groups of firefighters, will be remembered through information located about the firefighter and their sacrifice.
- Chicago World’s Fair: Cold Storage Fire
- Memorial Monday – Hotel Vendome Fire (MA)
- Memorial Monday – Barson’s Deli Fire (PA)
- Memorial Monday – Davidson Theatre Fire (WI)
- Memorial Monday – New Haven Apparatus Crash (CT)
- Memorial Monday – Wilmington Apparatus Crash (DE)
- Memorial Monday – Chicago Union Stockyards Fire (IL)
- Memorial Monday – The Loop Fire (CA)
- Memorial Monday – Boston Toy Factory Fire (MA)
- Memorial Monday – Baltimore Warehouse Fire (MD)
- Memorial Monday – Gulf Oil Refinery Fire (PA)
- Memorial Monday – Kingman Explosion (AZ)
- Memorial Monday – St. Louis Apparatus Crash (MO)
- Memorial Monday – Uptown Shelby Explosion (NC)
- Memorial Monday – Texas City Disaster
- Memorial Monday – Bowen-Merrill Bookstore Fire
- Memorial Monday – Merrimac Street Fire
- Memorial Monday – Butte Warehouse Explosion
- Memorial Monday – Louisville Recreation Center Fire
- Memorial Monday – Wichita Commercial Roof Collapse
- Memorial Monday – Sitka Brush Fire/Explosion
- Memorial Monday – Duluth Street Car Crash
- Memorial Monday – Blackwater Fire
- Memorial Monday – Auburn Apparatus Collision
- Memorial Monday – Swanson Office Building Fire
- Memorial Monday – Jass Manufacturing Company Fire
- Memorial Monday – St. Louis Streetcar Collision
- Memorial Monday – Strand Theatre Fire
- Memorial Monday – Tru-Fit Clothing Company Fire
- Memorial Monday – Hubbard Street Fire
