FDNY Loses 3 of it's BRAVEST

Father's Day turned tragic in Queens Sunday afternoon when an explosion at a building fire killed three New York City firefighters who leave behind eight children and left a fourth fighting for his life, officials said. At least 80 other emergency workers were injured, officials said. One rescue worker described the scene shortly after the blast as a "war zone." The blast tore through the hardware store and apartment building on Astoria Blvd. Sunday afternoon, showering bricks down on dozens of firefighters and rocking those inside.

Firefighter Harry Ford, 50, a 27-year veteran assigned to Rescue 4 in Queens , and Firefighter John Downing, 40, an 11-year veteran assigned to Ladder 163 in Queens were killed when the facade of the building rained down on them. They were venting windows when the blast occurred. Both were quickly pulled from beneath the rubble and taken to Elmhurst Hospital where they were pronounced dead, officials said. Firefighter Brian Fahey, 46, a 14-year veteran also from Rescue 4, was inside the building when the propane tanks and paint exploded in the basement of the hardware store, officials said.
14th Division Deputy Chief Terrence Roche told Firehouse.com News late Sunday that Fahey was "blown" into the basement. He added that there was radio contact with Fahey for a short period after the explosion but "then we lost contact."
Fahey was "trapped for a number of hours," according to an FDNY press information officer. Firefighters said Fahey was an instructor at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy.
As smoke poured from the building, dozens of firefighters, some wielding pick axes and chain saws, attempted to cut through the rubble to reach Fahey as he lay in the burning basement. "What was a quiet Sunday turned into a terrible tragedy very quickly," fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen said at a press conference.
"This is one of the most tragic days I can remember in the city," city Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said at a press conference at Elmhurst Hospital late Sunday night. "We lost three very, very brave and dedicated firefighters."
A moment of silence was held at for the firefighters at the Yankees-Mets game at 8 p.m. one firefighter said.

Firefighter Harry Ford, 50, a 27-year veteran assigned to Rescue 4 in Queens , was killed when parts of the building came raining down on him while he and another firefighter (Firefighter John Downing) were venting windows. He was quickly pulled from beneath the rubble and taken to Elmhurst Hospital along with Downing where they were pronounced dead, officials said.

Ford, a highly decorated firefighter, leaves behind a wife and three children - a daughter, 24-year-old Janna O'Brien, and two sons ages 10 (Gerard) and 12 (Harry).

Firefighter John Downing, 40, an 11-year veteran assigned to Ladder 163 in Queens was killed when the facade of the building rained down on him. He was venting windows when the blast occurred. Downing was quickly pulled from beneath the rubble and taken to Elmhurst Hospital (with Firefighter Harry Ford) where they were pronounced dead, officials said.

When the call came in to the Astoria Boulevard fire, Downing was sitting smoking a cigar and drinking a Pepsi. He stuck the cigar in the ashtray and left the Pepsi as he dashed to drive the truck to the scene. The cigar and Pepsi remained there today.

Sunday was supposed to be Downing's last day at work before he and his wife and two children left for a much-anticipated vacation in Ireland to visit relatives. Now, Downing's Irish relatives are expected in New York this week to attend his funeral.

Downing leaves behind a wife, a 7-year-old daughter, Joanne, and 3-year-old son, Michael.

Firefighter Brian Fahey, 46, a 14-year veteran also from Rescue 4, was inside the building when the propane tanks and paint exploded in the basement of the hardware store, officials said. As smoke poured from the building, dozens of firefighters, some wielding pick axes and chain saws, attempted to cut through the rubble to reach Fahey as he lay in the burning basement.
"I heard Brian call twice, 'I'm trapped under the stairs please come and get me.' We cut through the floor trying to get to the basement," Firefighter John Gaine said. "The engine was protecting us but fire was blowing out the holes. About three minutes later we heard Brian call again. We were unsuccessful."

Fellow firefighters put their arms around Gaine as he described the situation.

Fahey was a teacher. He taught high angle rope rescue at the FDNY Academy. "He was acting as a teacher when he was calling us, I could hear it in his voice. He was calm," said Gaine. Fahey was also an instructor in confined space incidents.