Our fallen hero

On Thursday, August 8, 1918 at approximately 8:00 AM, an alarm was sounded on Box 2859, 61st and Pine Streets for a fire in the Western Ice Company, in Cardington, beyond 63rd and Spruce Streets in Delaware County.

While operating at this fire, Hoseman John Anderson of Engine 54 was killed when he became trapped beneath a falling wall. This appeared to be the first time that a Philadelphia fireman was killed, on duty, while working outside the city limits.