Such sad, sad news.
A New York City firefighter — and father of four young children — has died after combatting a massive blaze that broke out in a building previously used as a movie set. According to reports, the fire ignited in the cellar of a building in Harlem around 11 p.m. on Thursday. While the space was unoccupied at the time, it had been used “earlier to film a movie.”
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Multiple reports have claimed that the fire broke out on the Ed Norton-directed Motherless Brooklyn, starring Bruce Willis, Willem Dafoe, and Alec Baldwin.
After two firefighters were rushed to the burn center at Cornell, it was confirmed that FDNY vet Michael R. Davidson did not survive the fiery encounter. Davidson, who served New York for 15 years, died at Harlem Hospital due to his injuries. He was only 37 years old.
In a statement confirming the untimely death, FDNY noted:
“He was cited for bravery on four separate occasions… Firefighter Davidson is survived by his wife, Eileen, and four children. He is the 1,150th member to make the Supreme Sacrifice while serving our city.”
How heartbreaking. New York Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro weighed in on the tragedy, as he shared in a press conference:
“The fire was in the cellar of this building. It was actually unoccupied at the time. It was being used earlier to film a movie. Firefighter Davidson was the nozzle-man of the first-to-arrive engine company, Engine 69. They encountered heavy fire. They did the best they could.”
Man, oh man.
Nigro went on to reveal that as the firefighters were forced out of the building by the blaze, Davidson got separated from the rest of his unit. In addition to the two burn injuries and one death, a number of firefighters faced less serious injuries. Not to mention, three civilians also suffered “very minor injuries at the scene.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio‘s office is clearly shaken up by Davidson’s death. The mayor’s press secretary, Eric Phillips, posted the following on Twitter:
This is an awful night. We’ve lost an NYC firefighter. Public briefing shortly at Harlem Hospital. Sick to my stomach.
— Eric Phillips (@EricFPhillips) March 23, 2018
You haven’t heard a scream until you’ve heard the scream of a mother who’s seen her son give his life to protect us. https://t.co/2WBFRbRdeq
— Eric Phillips (@EricFPhillips) March 23, 2018
We lost Michael Davidson tonight. He’s a hero firefighter. No words. 4 young kids. pic.twitter.com/mCsAQssfJc
— Eric Phillips (@EricFPhillips) March 23, 2018
We’re just WRECKED reading this. Our hearts go out to all of those affected by this terrible fire.
R.I.P., Mr. Davidson. You are a hero.
[Image via FDNY/Twitter.]
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