Twenty-five years after a Queens fire killed their firefighter husbands, three widows turned grief into a sisterhood that raised eight kids
On the 25th anniversary of a fatal Astoria hardware store fire, the widows of three fallen FDNY firefighters honored their husbands and the sisterhood that raised their eight children together.
Twenty-five years after a Queens fire killed their firefighter husbands, three widows turned grief into a sisterhood that raised eight kids
On the 25th anniversary of a fatal Astoria hardware store fire, the widows of three fallen FDNY firefighters honored their husbands and the sisterhood that raised their eight children together.
On Father’s Day in 2001, three New York City firefighters went to a hardware store fire in Astoria and did not come home. Twenty-five years later, on the anniversary, their widows stood at the same corner where it happened.
The fire was June 17, 2001, at the Long Island General Supply Company on Astoria Boulevard at 14th Street. It was ruled an accident. Firefighters were outside the building breaking windows for ventilation when a wall collapsed on them. Dozens of people were hurt. Three firefighters were killed: Harry Ford and Brian Fahey of Rescue 4, and John Downing of Ladder 163. They left eight children without a father.
Their wives, Denise Ford, Mary Fahey, and Anne Downing, were handed the same loss on the same day. Over 25 years the three widows leaned on each other through every…
Thanks for reading Bushwick Daily.The rest of this story is for members.
Create your free account or log in to continue reading.
