HEATHER CASPI
Firehouse.com News
Tragedy has struck the FDNY for the seventh time this year with the
death of a firefighter from an apparant heart attack at a three-alarm fire.
During a fire at an auto body shop in Staten Island Tuesday afternoon, a
firefighter was found in cardiac arrest and taken to St. Vincent's
Hospital, where he later died. At least seven other rescue workers
were injured during the incident.
According to the FDNY Press Office, Firefighter Michael Gorumba, 27, had been with the department for
six months, assigned to Engine 163. He is survived by his wife Lori, who is pregnant with their
second child, and their two-year-old son.
This loss comes just a little more than two months after FDNY was
sent reeling by the deaths of three of their bravest at a hardware
store blaze on Father's day, June 17.
The three killed in June were Firefighter Harry Ford, 50, a 27-year
veteran assigned to Rescue 4 in Queens, Firefighter John Downing,
40, an 11-year veteran assigned to Ladder 163 in Queens, and
Firefighter Brian Fahey, 46, a 14-year veteran also from Rescue 4.
Ford and Downing were killed when the facade of the building rained
down on them. Fahey was inside the building when the propane tanks
and paint exploded in the basement of the hardware store.
The first two deaths of the year for FDNY occurred in January.
On January 13, Firefighter Donald L. Franklin, 42, of Ladder 44 was
killed while
searching a burning apartment building in the Bronx where two residents died.
On Jan. 4, Firefighter Gregg J. McLoughlin, age 39, of Engine Company 302 in
Queens suffered cardiac arrest in his firehouse.
Barbara Poppo of Fire Department, and EMS Lieutenant with FDNY, died
in the line of duty of a heart attack while clearing snow in front of her EMS
station on January 21st, 2001.
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