John J. Andrews, August 17th, 1975

On Sunday, August 17, 1975 at 6:04 AM, Box 5988, Penrose and Lanier was struck for a fire located in the Gulf Oil Refinery complex. The address of the fire was listed as 4th Street and Y Avenue, within the Gulf property. Six alarms were struck by 6:52 AM, and it was placed under control at 8:44 AM. At 4:41 PM, the 7th alarm was struck, and this was followed by the 8th, the 9th, the 10th, and finally the 11th alarm at 6:01 PM.

Many newspaper articles were studied to try and reconstruct this fire, and the following result was achieved:

The pumping operation began at 12:45 AM on August 17th from the Tanker Afran Neptune which was Moored in the Schuylkill River. The fire began at 6:04 AM, more than five hours later, after volatile fumes from the overfilled tank drifted through vents to a nearby boiler house where they ignited. A flame front then followed the vapors back to the tank vents of Tank 231 and to the smoke stack of the No. 4 boiler house, causing a continuing fire at the vents and an explosion within the outer shell of the stack. This severely fractured the brick structured smoke stack. Within a brief period of time, an explosion occurred within Tank 231 and petroleum liquid spilled from the vents, causing the fire to spread within the dike surrounding the tank and to increase in severity inside the dike area.

An adjacent tank, No. 1114 to the north of Tank 231 which contained No. 6 fuel oil became involved in the fire and there was a failure of several pipelines within the dike area. It was during an explosion that occurred at approximately 4:41 PM, that the firemen were injured or lost their lives.

It took 9 days to finally extinguish all the fire which amounted to an $11 million loss and also destroyed the administration building.

Among the first firemen to lose their lives were: Firefighter Joseph Wiley of Ladder 27, Firefighter John J. Andrews of Engine 49, Firefighter Robert J. Fisher of Engine 33, Firefighter Ralph J. Campana of Ladder 19, Firefighter Hugh J. McIntyre of Engine 56, and Firefighter Roger T. Parker of Ladder 27.

Other firemen were taken to St. Agnes Burn Center in critical condition. They were: Lieutenant James Pouliot of Engine 20, Firefighter Carroll K. Brenek of Engine 57, Firefighter George Schrufer of Engine 49, and Firefighter David Schoolfield of Engine 57. Two Gulf employees were hospitalized in the Methodist Hospital cardiac unit.

Lieutenant James J. Pouliot died of his injuries on Sunday, August 24, 1975 while in St. Agnes Hospital. On Saturday, August 30, 1975 Firefighter Carroll K. Brenek died of his injuries.

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John J. Andrews, August 17th, 1975

On Sunday, August 17, 1975 at 6:04 AM, Box 5988, Penrose and Lanier was struck for a fire located in the Gulf Oil Refinery complex. The address of the fire was listed as 4th Street and Y Avenue, within the Gulf property. Six alarms were struck by 6:52 AM, and it was placed under control at 8:44 AM. At 4:41 PM, the 7th alarm was struck, and this was followed by the 8th, the 9th, the 10th, and finally the 11th alarm at 6:01 PM.

Many newspaper articles were studied to try and reconstruct this fire, and the following result was achieved:

The pumping operation began at 12:45 AM on August 17th from the Tanker Afran Neptune which was Moored in the Schuylkill River. The fire began at 6:04 AM, more than five hours later, after volatile fumes from the overfilled tank drifted through vents to a nearby boiler house where they ignited. A flame front then followed the vapors back to the tank vents of Tank 231 and to the smoke stack of the No. 4 boiler house, causing a continuing fire at the vents and an explosion within the outer shell of the stack. This severely fractured the brick structured smoke stack. Within a brief period of time, an explosion occurred within Tank 231 and petroleum liquid spilled from the vents, causing the fire to spread within the dike surrounding the tank and to increase in severity inside the dike area.

An adjacent tank, No. 1114 to the north of Tank 231 which contained No. 6 fuel oil became involved in the fire and there was a failure of several pipelines within the dike area. It was during an explosion that occurred at approximately 4:41 PM, that the firemen were injured or lost their lives.

It took 9 days to finally extinguish all the fire which amounted to an $11 million loss and also destroyed the administration building.

Among the first firemen to lose their lives were: Firefighter Joseph Wiley of Ladder 27, Firefighter John J. Andrews of Engine 49, Firefighter Robert J. Fisher of Engine 33, Firefighter Ralph J. Campana of Ladder 19, Firefighter Hugh J. McIntyre of Engine 56, and Firefighter Roger T. Parker of Ladder 27.

Other firemen were taken to St. Agnes Burn Center in critical condition. They were: Lieutenant James Pouliot of Engine 20, Firefighter Carroll K. Brenek of Engine 57, Firefighter George Schrufer of Engine 49, and Firefighter David Schoolfield of Engine 57. Two Gulf employees were hospitalized in the Methodist Hospital cardiac unit.

Lieutenant James J. Pouliot died of his injuries on Sunday, August 24, 1975 while in St. Agnes Hospital. On Saturday, August 30, 1975 Firefighter Carroll K. Brenek died of his injuries.

Career History

Appointed to Fire Training School - March 28, 1955

Transferred to Engine 43 May 31, 1955

Transferred to Engine 49 - January 15, 1962

Additonal Information

PHILADELPHIA FIRE DEPARTMENT
HEADQUARTERS
GENERAL MEMORANDUM #15-104
August 10, 2015
TO : All Officers and Members
REF/AUTHORITY : Fire Prevention/Fire Commissioner
SUBJECT : 40 YEAR GULF OIL REFINERY FIRE MEMORIAL
On Monday, August 17, 2015, beginning at 1030 hours, The Philadelphia Fire Department will hold a memorial ceremony to remember the ultimate sacrifice paid by eight Philadelphia Firefighters who gave their lives, 40 years ago at the Gulf Oil Refinery fire in 1975.
Fireman John J. Andrews, Engine 49, Fireman Carrol K. Brenek, Engine 57, Fireman Ralph Campana, Ladder 19, Fireman Robert J. Fisher, Engine 33, Fireman Hugh J. McIntyre, Engine 56, Fireman Robert T. Parker, Ladder 27, Fireman Joseph R. Wiley, Ladder 27, and Lieutenant James Pouliot, Engine 20 were killed in the line-of-duty as a result of the Gulf Oil Refinery fire and explosion on August 17, 1975.
The memorial ceremony will take place at the Fireman’s Hall Museum, 147 N. 2nd Street, the same location, where in 2007, a dedicatory event was held to commit 8 hero plaques and mark a permanent reminder for each of our fallen brothers. On Monday we will, once again, set time
aside to reflect and remember their ultimate sacrifice in a building which is dedicated to preserve Philadelphia Fire Department history.
All off-duty members and families are invited to attend this remembrance ceremony. Uniform of the day will be Class “B” with cap. A luncheon will be held at Local 22, 5th & Willow Streets
immediately following the ceremony.
BY ORDER OF
DERRICK J.V. SAWYER
FIRE COMMISSIONER