Two firefighters were killed Saturday when fighting a
seven-alarm blaze at an abandoned highrise building near ground
zero in Lower Manhattan, mayor Michael Bloomberg said.
The former Deutsche Bank building, which sustained severe damage
in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, is in the process of being
demolished.
The fire broke out at about 3:40 p.m. (1940 GMT) on the 14th or
15th floor of the building and spread through several floors.
Up to 250 firefighters from 60 units across the city responded
to the blaze.
One of the two firefighters killed was identified as Joseph
Graffagnino, 34, of Brooklyn. He was a member of Ladder Company
5,which lost 11 members on Sept. 11, 2001.
Also killed was Robert Beddia, 53, of Staten Island.
Speaking at a press conference Saturday night, Bloomberg said
both firefighters had been trapped, inhaled a great deal of smoke
and gone into cardiac arrest.
The mayor said five other firefighters were injured fighting the
blaze but were treated and released.
By about 8:30 p.m. (0030 GMT Sunday), the fire was all but
extinguished, said Andrew Troisi, spokesman for the city's Office
of Emergency Management.
Although it is too early to know the cause of the blaze, fire
officials say that an electrical problem may have been to
blame.
The 40-story building is in the process of being deconstructed.
Construction crews have dismantled 14 stories, reaching the 26th
floor Tuesday.
(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2007)
