FDNY marks 20-year anniversary of fatal Father’s
Day Fire with wreath-laying ceremony in Astoria
BY GABRIELE HOLTERMANN
The FDNY held a wreathlaying
ceremony on June 16 in
memory of fallen firefighters
Harry S. Ford, Brian D. Fahey
and John J. Downing, who
were killed on Father’s Day in
2001 during a five-alarm fire
at Long Island General Supply
Co. on Astoria Boulevard.
Dozens of firefighters had
responded to the blaze in
2001 when an explosion in the
basement tore through the
two-story building, killing
the veteran firefighters. Ford,
50, from Rescue 4 and 40-yearold
Downing from Ladder
163 were standing outside
the building when the walls
collapsed and buried them.
Fahey, 46, also with Rescue
4, was inside the building on
the ground floor when the
floors collapsed, and he fell
into the basement.
The widows of the fallen
firefighters — Mary Fahey,
Denise Ford and Ann Downing
— and their families attended
the June 16 ceremony alongside
members of the FDNY.
Standing with Mary Fahey
and Anne Downing, Denise
Ford expressed their gratitude
that the FDNY had not
forgotten the sacrifice their
husbands made on that fateful
day.“
They have helped us
through difficult times, and
we are very grateful for all
that they have given us,” Denise
Ford said. “We are happy
that they are here today and
to continue to show respect to
their memories.”
In front of the families of
the fallen and about a hundred
members of the FDNY, Fire
Commissioner Daniel Nigro
said that Father’s Day was
changed in an instant for the
families of the fallen firefighters
when they didn’t return
home that day.
“When a fire in a hardware
store on this block led to an explosion,
it was a day that broke
all of our hearts with eight
children suddenly left without
their beloved fathers,” Nigro
recalled. “They were away
from their own families on
duty, protecting others.”
Nigro described John
Downing, who had been with
the department for 11 years, as
Denise Ford, Anne Downing and Mary Fahey, the widows of the three firefighters who died in the 2001 Father’s Day fire in Astoria, attend
the wreath laying ceremony on June 16, 2021. Photos by Gabriele Holtermann
a professional and as someone
who always made everyone a
better person.
He shared that Brian Fahey,
who had been a firefighter
for 14 years, was nicknamed
“The Chief” because he stood
out as a true leader who was
TIMESLEDGER | Q 2 NS.COM | JUNE 25-JULY 1, 2021
constantly learning and
teaching those around him.
Harry Ford, a 27-year veteran
with the FDNY, was cited
nine times for bravery, Nigro
said, calling him “an extraordinary
firefighter, renowned
for his abilities.”
Nigro explained that the
plaque dedicated to the heroes
would be attached to the new
building currently under construction
at the site where the
two-story building once stood.
“That plaque will be placed
once again as a permanent
tribute to their memory,” the
commissioner said.
Addressing their widows,
Nigro renewed the FDNY’s
promise to always take care of
them.
“Mary, Ann, Denise — you
epitomize strength and courage.
You raised wonderful
families, and know that you
and your families will always
be in our hearts,” Nigro said.
Acting Chief of Department
Thomas Richardson said that
Father’s Day is usually a day
of celebration of fatherhood
and the important role fathers
play in society.
“Instead, their families suffered
a tragedy, and the FDNY
suffered a very sad loss,” Richardson
said, adding that he
hoped that acknowledging the
supreme sacrifice the three
firefighters made 20 years
ago would bring comfort to
the widows and their families.
“We will continue to make
sure that this story is told to
honor their sacrifice, and the
laying of the wreath today is a
symbol of remembrance.”
FDNY firefighters attend the wreath-laying ceremony.
TIMESLEDGER is published weekly by Queens CNG LLC, 38-15 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY.11361, (718) 229-0300. The entire contents of this publication are copyright 2021. All rights reserved. The newspaper will not be
liable for errors appearing in any advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Periodicals postage paid at Flushing, N.Y. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the TimesLedger C/O News Queens
CNG LLC. 38-15 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, N.Y. 11361.
link
link
/NS.COM
