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Two veteran firefighters were killed in a blaze at the abandoned Deutsche Bank building at 130 Liberty St. yesterday. The building was in the process of being dismantled after it was damaged beyond repair during the destruction of the World Trade Center in 2001. The New York Times reports that the fire started on the 17th floor, allowing the blaze to mushroom out of control as it consumed construction equipment and scaffolding, which fell to the street below. The cause of the fire is still being investigated, but a deconstruction crew was working at the site before the fire broke out and a police source told The Daily News that fire may have been caused by a construction worker's cigarette.
The two firefighter fatalities were 34-year-old Joseph Graffagnino and 56-year-old Robert Beddia. The pair were killed on the 14th floor of the building as they were overcome by choking smoke after a source said the oxygen in their tanks was depleted. The smoke inhalation sent the men into cardiac arrest. Beddia had been with the FDNY for 23 years and was the most experienced firefighter on the scene. Graffagnino and Beddia were veterans from Engine 24 and Ladder 5 of Battalion 2 on 6th Ave. and Houston St, the SoHo firehouse that lost 11 members on 9/11. Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said, "This house has seen more pain and devastation that anyone should have to deal with.
Scoppetta said that the fire was a particularly difficult one to battle. The fact that the Deutsche Bank building was being dismantled floor by floor meant that the building was filled with flammable materials like cardboard. In addition, the standpipe to the building was allegedly not working and firefighters had to pull hoses up from the street using ropes. Other sources say only one of the two construction elevators was working. Over 275 firefighters were called to the scene.
The once 40-story building had been reduced to 26 at the time of the fire, after years of delays in its destruction. Contamination from a number of toxic substances during the destruction of the World Trade Center necessitated the deliberate floor-by-floor dismantling effort. Residents and business owners in the area have long been concerned about the toxic dust still trapped in the building, but Mayor Bloomberg said that the air was safe - so far. The EPA is trying to figure out which of its air monitors is undamaged from the fire. Still, Maria Smith, member of Community Board 1, told the Post, "It should have been taken down as soon as they could after 9/11. The building was polluted. They left it so long that toxic mold grew - and people live all around it."
The News reports that area residents were not allowed into their homes as emergency vehicles filled the streets surrounding the fire because of concerns of toxic smoke and possible building collapse. In addition to the two firefighter fatalities, dozens of other firemen were treated for smoke inhalation or other injuries during the seven alarm blaze.
Cameraphone picture of fire at top by Todd Myers, photograph of FDNY response by Brian Fountain on Flickr
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very sad. my thoughts are with their families. they look SO happy in their pictures.
Great another wave of toxic air.
The construction worker who lit the light should confess.
I was down there yesterday and was shocked to hear of these deaths on the news. We were watching from a few blocks away, where we didn't have a sense of what was happening inside, other than seeing the flames. It felt like just watching an abandoned building burning--you didn't think about people inside. Onlookers sat on the grass with their dogs and kids, watching, talking, laughing, like at a picnic. Not until later did we learn that while we were all snapping souvenir pictures, these men were dying.
Jeremiah
http://vanishingnewyork.blogspot.com/
Community Boards are so stupid. Yeah, they should have taken it down much sooner but how many times were the plans attacked as inadequate? And honestly, toxic materials are usually quite harmless when left undisturbed. The idea that residents were unsafe simply because the building was there is probably untrue. It's when crap like this happens that toxins are released.
If people are so paranoid about being poisoned, why do they still live there? I don't mean to be crass but if they think the government is lying to them they have two options: stay or go. If they stay they could pool together and do their own testing and if it turns out they are right they could sue for damages.
You alls get a lot of flack for your coverage (sometimes deserved). But I have to say this was a very helpful, timely and well-written story. Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks Rik. I'd like to point out that this was a collaborative post that was greatly improved by the frequently maligned Jen, who corrected errors and added valuable information.
May the rest in peace. That's absolutely terrible. I was up on the west side highway watching the traffic as it was bumper to bumper while they had the road closed.
Two people killed for an ugly abandoned building. Jeezus. Tear it down...NOW...what's left of it. Then figure out a way to sue Deutsche Bank.
If it wasn't for the nimby community board members these fire fighters would still be alive. This building is a testament to community board involvement and their direct responsibility for this tragedy. If this building was taken down in 2006 as was supposed to be done, this would not have happened. The people responsible for fighting the demolition of this building now have blood on their hands.
the building should of been demolished years ago. should of been done during the clean up process.
should not of taken this long, nimby or no nimby.
don't forget, each time they found remains, the job was stopped so it's not just the community boards fault. it's also the 9/11 people.
we are coming up on six years and nothing is done.
God Bless Community Board One, they should of taken it done as soon as clean up was over or during the clean up. You are correct, community board one.
It sure didn't help that every time they found a scrap of human bone anywhere within five blocks, everything would be called to a standstill while they searched for more remains. I'm all for remembering the dead, but the point when enough was enough came a long time ago. It was and it is time to move on.
@5 & @6,
While you're busy patting yourselves on the back, do note that the first comment on this story (which pointed out that you misidentified one of the firefighters) was deleted. Journalists should not be in the business of covering up their mistakes.
If they only knew six years later.
they should of went in and demolished it when they had the chance, before the 9/11 complainers were circling. too late now.
what a clusterf*ck.
its a miracle.... thank god for saving this building from collapse. maybe august fires are different from september fires?? we all know the fate of other buildings at wtc. there was also another miracle last week in shanghai, where the almost tallest building in the world caught fire for hours.... god is great.
what in the world are you trying to say 14
The friggin standpipe was dry, no water, no sprinkler. don't go to work tomorrow if you work in the area. if you have a union rep, talk to your union rep. Bring a respirator to work and expense it. Get an air purifier and expense it.
lung disease is a serious matter.
The building was supposed to have a working standpipe for fire protection. When LMDC (the building owner) chairman Avi Schick was asked on NPR this morning why the standpipe wasn't working he changed the subject. Anyone can spend money. If this is the way they handled Deutsche Bank, what about the rest of site?
Who is really responsible for no emargency water supply at the building? Don't blame Pataki's management structure. Blame the community boards. Blame the victim's families. Most of all, blame Donald Trump - after all he was the LMDC's biggest critic.
Blame the polyurethane. Maybe it was arson. Blame the elevator operator who first reported the blaze, if he is grilled long enough he will confess.
Authorities said each floor permit mentioned the requirement for a working water delivery system, known as a standpipe, to be present. The last permit was issued as recently as July 31. The city could not say on Monday when the water network had last been inspected or tested.
The standpipe wasn't working right or it was deliberately tampered with. Either scenario isn't pretty.
NPR interview: When Chairman Schick was asked if the demolition was being rushed, he said it was an improper question. Asked about the standpipe, he changed the subject. Raved about the "unprecented transparency". Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Job well done, Spitzer.
Just listened to the Schick interview again, he's not as bad as the old management, and at least he handled the staircase sensibly. But he didn't give complete or satisfactory answers.
The timing of the fire is somewhat suspicious, having started shortly after the worker's shift ended, so the building was conveniently mostly empty. Lets see what develops.
Just to cover all bases, I would look closely at where the fire started, and also at whoever was last at where the fire started. I'm not saying it was arson, and don't want to cause division, but if it was arson they would have known about no water supply. Who might benefit?
People leave the building, then the fire starts. That is some coincidence.
The FD did an amazing job putting out the fire, considering the standpipe was NG.
On the 2 firefighters who died: The non-working standpipe would have caused initial confusion. Maybe the first firefighter got lost looking to find a working standpipe connection, and the second firefighter went looking for him.