Firefighter Fatalities

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatalities:

Name: Robert Neary

Rank: Lieutenant

Age: 60

Gender: Male

Status: Career

Years of Service: 37

Name: Daniel Sweeney

Rank: Firefighter

Age: 25

Gender: Male

Status: Career

Years of Service: 5

Date of Incident: 04/09/2012

Time of Incident: 0315hrs

Date of Death: 04/09/2012

Fire Department: Philadelphia Fire Department

Address: Fire Admin Bldg, 240 Spring Garden St., Philadelphia, PA 19123-2991

Fire Department Chief: Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers

Incident Description: Lieutenant Neary and Firefighter Sweeney, both from Ladder 10, were battling a multi-alarm fire with exposures.  While operating inside of one of the exposure structures, a wall collapsed, killing both of them and injuring several other firefighters. Investigation into the incident continues by local and state authorities.

Incident Location: Front Street and York Street (USNG: 18S VK 887 262).

Funeral Arrangements: Pending

Tribute is being paid to Lieutenant Robert Neary and Firefighter Daniel Sweeney at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

To date, 26 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2012. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online @ http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm