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Firefighter Dies Responding to Blaze at Harlem Film Set Firefighter Dies Responding to Blaze at a Harlem Film Set
(about 1 hour later)
A New York firefighter was killed and two others were seriously injured by a fire at a building in Harlem that was being used for a film directed by Edward Norton, officials said Friday morning.A New York firefighter was killed and two others were seriously injured by a fire at a building in Harlem that was being used for a film directed by Edward Norton, officials said Friday morning.
The five-alarm fire broke out in the basement of 773 St. Nicholas Ave. shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday, Daniel A. Nigro, the New York City fire commissioner, said during a news conference early Friday. The building is the former site of St. Nick’s Pub, which closed in 2011 and was one of Harlem’s few remaining jazz clubs. The five-alarm fire broke out in the basement of 773 St. Nicholas Avenue shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday, Daniel A. Nigro, the New York City fire commissioner, said during a news conference early Friday. The building is the former site of St. Nick’s Pub, which closed in 2011.
“Conditions worsened after the hose lines were brought down to the cellar,” Mr. Nigro said. The flames climbed up through the building and were seen coming through the roof. “Conditions worsened after the hose lines were brought down to the cellar,” Commissioner Nigro said. The flames climbed up through the building and were seen coming through the roof. The commissioner said that it had not yet been determined how the fire had started.
Michael R. Davidson, 37, was responsible for operating the fire hose nozzle for Engine Company 69, the first to arrive, Mr. Nigro said. He was somehow separated from other firefighters when the blaze intensified and forced them to pull back, officials said. He was critically injured and was taken to Harlem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Michael R. Davidson, 37, was responsible for operating the fire hose nozzle for Engine Company 69, the first to arrive, the commissioner said. He was somehow separated from other firefighters when the blaze intensified and forced them to pull back from the building, officials said.
“New York City is in mourning tonight,” Councilman Mark D. Levine said of Mr. Davidson in a Twitter post. “He made the ultimate sacrifice to save the lives of our neighbors. Horrific tragedy. We pray for his family and loved ones.” When he was found by other firefighters, he was unconscious, and critically injured. He was taken to Harlem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Mr. Davidson was a 15-year veteran of the fire department and had been cited for bravery four times, the department said. The names of the two injured firefighters were not released. “New York City is in mourning tonight,” Councilman Mark D. Levine said of Mr. Davidson in a tweet. “He made the ultimate sacrifice to save the lives of our neighbors. Horrific tragedy. We pray for his family and loved ones.”
The building was being used for the filming of “Motherless Brooklyn,” neighbors said on social media. The film is based on a book by Jonathan Lethem about a detective with Tourette’s syndrome. The movie stars Bruce Willis and Mr. Norton, who is also the director. Firefighter Davidson was a 15-year veteran of the Fire Department and had been cited for bravery four times, the department said. The names of the two injured firefighters, who were being treated for burns, were not released.
Commissioner Nigro said that fighting a fire in a cellar is one of the most dangerous tasks that firefighters take on, and that in a building that isn’t fireproof, like the one on St. Nicholas Avenue, flames are liable to spread rapidly. Several other firefighters had less serious injuries and three civilians received minor injuries, the commissioner said.
“This is an awful night,” Eric Phillips, press secretary for Mayor Bill de Blasio, wrote on Twitter. “We’ve lost an NYC firefighter.”“This is an awful night,” Eric Phillips, press secretary for Mayor Bill de Blasio, wrote on Twitter. “We’ve lost an NYC firefighter.”
“Sick to my stomach,” he added.“Sick to my stomach,” he added.
Mr. Davidson is survived by his wife, Eileen, and four children, the department said. He was the 1,150th firefighter in the 153-year history of the department to die in the line of duty, Commissioner Nigro said. The building, which was one of Harlem’s few remaining jazz clubs before it closed, was being used for the filming of “Motherless Brooklyn,” neighbors said on social media. The film, based on a book by Jonathan Lethem about a detective with Tourette’s syndrome, stars Bruce Willis and Mr. Norton, who is also the director.
In a statement, the film’s producers offered condolences to Firefighter Davidson’s family. The statement said that the fire started toward the end of the production’s working day, when the dozens of people working on site noticed smoke coming into their set from below.
“To our great sorrow, we now know that a NYC firefighter lost his life battling the blaze that grew, and our hearts ache in solidarity with his family,” the statement said. “New York City firefighters truly are the bravest in the world. We watched firsthand with astonishment as they charged into the smoke to make sure all were safely out and then fought to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading.”
A spokeswoman for the producers said the cause of the fire was not yet known.
Early Friday morning, the interior of the building was completely gutted, and one of the neighboring buildings appeared to have been damaged. A movie supply truck was parked on the street, across from a fleet of classic cars. (The film is set in 1950s New York.)
Firefighter Davidson, who comes from a family of firefighters, is survived by his wife, Eileen, and four children. He was the 1,150th firefighter in the 153-year history of the department to die in the line of duty, Commissioner Nigro said.