John M. McKernan, January 12th, 1963

On Saturday, January 12, 1963, a collapse of a wall killed Firefighter Charles Senior of Engine Co. 20 and Firefighter John M. McKernan of Ladder Co. 14, during a seven-alarm fire that destroyed St. Elizabeth’s Parochial School at 23rd Street and Montgomery Avenues.

The two men became buried at their positions in front of the building. Eight other firefighters were injured. The collapse also destroyed two ladder trucks.

St. Elizabeth’s School was a five-story stone, brick, and wood joist building containing 22 classrooms. Flames were seen coming from the basement by a civilian and a “Special Assignment” was transmitted at 8:27 PM. Platoon “A” of Engine 27, Ladder 14, and Battalion Chief James Skala of the 3rd Battalion responded.

Upon arrival, fire was already spreading to portions of the second floor. Box 146, 23rd and Berks was struck at 8:29 PM, for additional help. Additional alarms were struck in rapid succession.

Commissioner George E. Hink arrived early enough to take a tour of portions of the building and quickly determined that the fire was of such magnitude that it would have to be fought from the street. He ordered “everyone outside” and gave orders for heavy streams to be operated from around the perimeter of the fire.

About 9:15 PM, the fire seemed “under control” but a heavy volume of smoke was still coming from the building. About this time, ladders were being raised to the school roof, and to the roofs of the buildings across the street.

Ladder 18’s apparatus was parked nose-to-nose with Ladder 14’s apparatus on the west side of 23rd Street. Ladder 14 had its main ladder raised to one of the dwellings opposite the school. Suddenly, there was a muffled explosion and the west wall of the building came thundering down. Large granite blocks were thrown across the street. Chief Hink, who was near the intersection of 23rd and Montgomery, said that he saw the men caught beneath the falling wall, while others ran for their lives.

It was impossible to send other men into the area to dig for the buried firefighters because they feared the remainder of the wall might collapse.  Additionally, the gasoline tank of Ladder 18’s apparatus had exploded and sprayed flaming gasoline into the street amidst the debris. Fallen electrical wires were also lying in the water near the scene of the collapse adding to the danger for the firemen.

For about 15 minutes after the wall fell, the fire was an inferno. At 10:12 PM, the fire was declared under control. No exact cause of the explosion was determined, but it was theorized that pent-up gases generated by the fire were the cause.

Others injured at this fire included Captain William Webb of Ladder 22 (Acting Battalion Chief in the 8th Battalion) and Firefighter William Eisinger of Engine20.

 

 

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John M. McKernan, January 12th, 1963

On Saturday, January 12, 1963, a collapse of a wall killed Firefighter Charles Senior of Engine Co. 20 and Firefighter John M. McKernan of Ladder Co. 14, during a seven-alarm fire that destroyed St. Elizabeth’s Parochial School at 23rd Street and Montgomery Avenues.

The two men became buried at their positions in front of the building. Eight other firefighters were injured. The collapse also destroyed two ladder trucks.

St. Elizabeth’s School was a five-story stone, brick, and wood joist building containing 22 classrooms. Flames were seen coming from the basement by a civilian and a “Special Assignment” was transmitted at 8:27 PM. Platoon “A” of Engine 27, Ladder 14, and Battalion Chief James Skala of the 3rd Battalion responded.

Upon arrival, fire was already spreading to portions of the second floor. Box 146, 23rd and Berks was struck at 8:29 PM, for additional help. Additional alarms were struck in rapid succession.

Commissioner George E. Hink arrived early enough to take a tour of portions of the building and quickly determined that the fire was of such magnitude that it would have to be fought from the street. He ordered “everyone outside” and gave orders for heavy streams to be operated from around the perimeter of the fire.

About 9:15 PM, the fire seemed “under control” but a heavy volume of smoke was still coming from the building. About this time, ladders were being raised to the school roof, and to the roofs of the buildings across the street.

Ladder 18’s apparatus was parked nose-to-nose with Ladder 14’s apparatus on the west side of 23rd Street. Ladder 14 had its main ladder raised to one of the dwellings opposite the school. Suddenly, there was a muffled explosion and the west wall of the building came thundering down. Large granite blocks were thrown across the street. Chief Hink, who was near the intersection of 23rd and Montgomery, said that he saw the men caught beneath the falling wall, while others ran for their lives.

It was impossible to send other men into the area to dig for the buried firefighters because they feared the remainder of the wall might collapse.  Additionally, the gasoline tank of Ladder 18’s apparatus had exploded and sprayed flaming gasoline into the street amidst the debris. Fallen electrical wires were also lying in the water near the scene of the collapse adding to the danger for the firemen.

For about 15 minutes after the wall fell, the fire was an inferno. At 10:12 PM, the fire was declared under control. No exact cause of the explosion was determined, but it was theorized that pent-up gases generated by the fire were the cause.

Others injured at this fire included Captain William Webb of Ladder 22 (Acting Battalion Chief in the 8th Battalion) and Firefighter William Eisinger of Engine20.

 

 

Career History

Appointed Fireman Ladder 25 - June 1, 1947

Transferred Fireman Ladder 14 - June 2, 1948