Terry McElveen, October 27th, 1997

On Monday, October 27, 1997 at 12:28 AM, Engine 63 was dispatched for downed power lines on the 1500 block of 68th Avenue. (This particular night Engine 63 was running with an Officer & 4 firefighters.) When they arrived, they found power lines down and a small brush fire caused by sparks from the wire. Lieutenant McElveen ordered the area blocked off and extinguished the small fire. Lieutenant McElveen also requested PECO to the scene via the fire radio.

At about 12:56 AM, the driver noticed a haze of smoke coming from the basement window of a house near the location of the downed wire. Engine 63 went to investigate. The owner of the dwelling told them that his son was on the second floor. One of the members went upstairs and escorted him out of the dwelling. Lieutenant McElveen and Firefighter Hynes went to investigate the smoke.

They made their way through the first floor and to the basement. After a few minutes, they came out of the dwelling and donned their SCBA’s. At approximately 01:07 AM, Lieutenant McElveen and Firefighter Hynes re-entered the dwelling with a booster line. The third Firefighter of Engine 63 was feeding them the line from the door. After the line stopped advancing, he went back to the engine and pulled off 1¾” hose. The third firefighter then took the 1¾” water line into the dwelling. He could only go as far as the dining room because of the heavy smoke and limited visibility.

At 01:22 AM, after no contact with his men, the driver called the communications center and requested a Tactical Box. This was the first time the communications center was alerted of a fire in a residence.

At 01:25 AM, Battalion 2 arrived on the scene and called Engine 63 on the portable radio, with no response. At the same time, Ladder 29 and Engine 51 arrived on location. Ladder 29 began a primary search and Engine 51 stretched a 1 3/4” water line to the rear. Engine 51 was able to enter the basement through the rear of the dwelling.

Members of Ladder 29, began a search, they found both Lieutenant McElveen and Firefighter Hynes kneeling at the basement door, with their SCBA masks off. They were unresponsive. They were removed to the waiting medic unit and transported to Einstein Hospital where attempts to revive them failed.

Note: Lt. McElveen had 21 years of service. Firefighter Hynes served 10 months on the job.

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Terry McElveen, October 27th, 1997

On Monday, October 27, 1997 at 12:28 AM, Engine 63 was dispatched for downed power lines on the 1500 block of 68th Avenue. (This particular night Engine 63 was running with an Officer & 4 firefighters.) When they arrived, they found power lines down and a small brush fire caused by sparks from the wire. Lieutenant McElveen ordered the area blocked off and extinguished the small fire. Lieutenant McElveen also requested PECO to the scene via the fire radio.

At about 12:56 AM, the driver noticed a haze of smoke coming from the basement window of a house near the location of the downed wire. Engine 63 went to investigate. The owner of the dwelling told them that his son was on the second floor. One of the members went upstairs and escorted him out of the dwelling. Lieutenant McElveen and Firefighter Hynes went to investigate the smoke.

They made their way through the first floor and to the basement. After a few minutes, they came out of the dwelling and donned their SCBA’s. At approximately 01:07 AM, Lieutenant McElveen and Firefighter Hynes re-entered the dwelling with a booster line. The third Firefighter of Engine 63 was feeding them the line from the door. After the line stopped advancing, he went back to the engine and pulled off 1¾” hose. The third firefighter then took the 1¾” water line into the dwelling. He could only go as far as the dining room because of the heavy smoke and limited visibility.

At 01:22 AM, after no contact with his men, the driver called the communications center and requested a Tactical Box. This was the first time the communications center was alerted of a fire in a residence.

At 01:25 AM, Battalion 2 arrived on the scene and called Engine 63 on the portable radio, with no response. At the same time, Ladder 29 and Engine 51 arrived on location. Ladder 29 began a primary search and Engine 51 stretched a 1 3/4” water line to the rear. Engine 51 was able to enter the basement through the rear of the dwelling.

Members of Ladder 29, began a search, they found both Lieutenant McElveen and Firefighter Hynes kneeling at the basement door, with their SCBA masks off. They were unresponsive. They were removed to the waiting medic unit and transported to Einstein Hospital where attempts to revive them failed.

Note: Lt. McElveen had 21 years of service. Firefighter Hynes served 10 months on the job.

Career History

Appointed Firefighter - June 7, 1976

Transferred Ladder 4  - August 2, 1976

Promoted Lieutenant Division 2  - November 22, 1996

Transferred Lieutenant Engine 63  - January 24, 1997