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# 33rd Anniversary Of Waldbaum's Fire That Claimed The Lives Of Six Firemen
- URL: https://bklyner.com/33rd-anniversary-of-waldbaums-fire-that-claimed-the-lives-of-six-firemen-sheepshead-bay/
- Published: 2011-08-02T19:35:58.000Z
- Updated: 2011-08-02T19:35:58.000Z
- Author: Erica Sherman
- Tags: firemens corner, john dwyer, tributes, waldbaums, waldbaums fire, #API-Imported

![](/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/sb_waldbaums_fire_33_years.jpg)

Source: "FDNY Remembering the Waldbaums Fire August 2, 1978" (facebook group). Photo by John G. Dwyer

As the 10-year anniversary of September 11, 2001 looms, we reflect upon [the anniversary of the tragic Waldbaum’s fire](/honoring-fallen-heroes-of-1978s-waldbaums-fire/), 33 years ago today, heretofore the greatest loss of life for the FDNY in Brooklyn until the terrorist attacks on 9/11.

Firefighter George Rice, 38, of Ladder 153; FF James McManus, 48; Cov. Lt. James Cutillo, 39, 33rd Battalion; FF Harold Hastings, 39, 42nd Battalion; FF Charles Bouton, 38, Ladder 156; and William O’Connor, 29 of Ladder 156 all lost their lives on August 2, 1978 when the roof of the supermarket at Ocean Avenue and Avenue Y collapsed at approximately 9:02 a.m. A total of 12 firefighters fell into the belly of the raging inferno, and 34 additional firefighters were also wounded in a desperate attempt to save their fellow brothers.

As we reported last year:

> In 1999, the [city renamed the corner “Firemen’s Corner,”](http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/events/firemenscorner.shtml?ref=bklyner.com) in what is said to be the last public dedication to honor the fallen heroes.

> A [Facebook page frequently visited by family and friends](http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=98089178689#!/group.php?gid=98089178689&v=wall) also keeps the memory of those who passed alive, as does an annual mass [held this morning at St. Brendans Church](http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134855423217748&ref=mf). You can also read the account of[ Steve Spak](http://stevespak.com/waldbaums.html?ref=bklyner.com), another FDNY photographer on the scene that morning.

As we also reported, [JGDwyerPhotography](http://www.jgdwyerphotography.com/?ref=bklyner.com)’s John G. Dwyer, who has photographed the FDNY for more than 30 years, created [a haunting montage](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTzBg1YIZmI&feature=player%5Fembedded&ref=bklyner.com) recalling the tragic day, and paying tribute to those hero firefighters, whose supreme sacrifice will never be forgotten.

*Correction: The original version of this article stated that the 1978 Waldbaum’s fire was “heretofore the greatest loss of life for the FDNY until the terrorist attacks on 9/11.” As astute reader “Kp” [points out](/33rd-anniversary-of-waldbaums-fire-that-claimed-the-lives-of-six-firemen/#comment-275254668), the greatest loss of life suffered by the FDNY was actually the [Madison Green five-alarm blaze in October 1966](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madison%5FGreen%5F%28New%5FYork%5FCity%29?ref=bklyner.com), which resulted in the deaths of 12 firefighters. The Waldbaum’s fire represented the FDNY’s biggest pre-9/11 loss of life in Brooklyn only. Our apologies for the confusion.*