Fallen Philadelphia Firefighters Remembered as Decorated Veterans of Department

PHILADELPHIA (MyFoxPhilly.com) – New information is coming out about the two Philadelphia firefighters killed in a blaze on Monday in Kensington.

Bill Gault, the President of IAFF Local 22, says Lt. Robert Neary and Firefighter Daniel Sweeney were both from Ladder 10.

My Fox Philly Images From Engine 7, Ladder 10

“It is with heavy hearts that we must inform you of the tragic deaths of two of our own, Lt. Robert Neary and Firefighter Daniel Sweeney, both assigned to Ladder 10 on the C platoon, who died in the line of duty in the early morning hours of Monday, April 9th while battling a 5-alarm warehouse inferno in the Kensington section of Philadelphia,” Gault said.

Neary had 38 years in with the department, and he had four unit citations in his career.

Before joining the fire department, Neary was a Philadelphia Police officer for three years.

Neary leaves behind a wife, Diane, and their three children.

Firefighter Daniel Sweeney was a second-generation firefighter and joined the Department in July 2006. He was at Ladder 10 since 2007.

Sweeney already had two unit citations in his career. He was the loving son of his parents, David and Marian Sweeney.

The two firefighters died after a wall collapsed as they were trying to extinguish flames inside a furniture store adjacent to the warehouse where the fire broke out.

The Kensington fire also injured two other firefighters.

Firefighter Francis Chaney was treated at the hospital and released Monday morning.

“We were able to ensure that he got home and that his family is with him,” Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers said during a news conference Monday afternoon. “His father is a retired fire captain, he was on the scene with his son, and he went home with his son.”

Firefighter Pat Nally remains in the intensive care unit Monday afternoon.

“He is in stable condition,” Ayers said. “He is with his family, he’s still with his family, and through it all he was fighting, and his spirits were OK.”

As for the two fallen firefighters, Ayers said, “Again, the families, we’re continuing to support those families as we move forth through some very difficult days here in the city.”

The fire was first reported at 3:13 a.m. inside the six-story, abandoned Thomas Buck Hosiery Factory located at 1817 York Street.

The blaze reached five alarms by 4 a.m., Ayers said.

In all, 31 homes were evacuated as gusting winds blew hot embers into the neighborhood, starting separate fires in six homes and the next-door  business at 2411 Kensington Avenue, Giamari Furniture & Bedding.

It was within that building where, 29 minutes after the warehouse fire was brought under control at 5:21 a.m., a collapse occurred that trapped five firefighters from Ladder 10.

One of those five firefighters was able to escape on his own, while an urban rescue crew was called in to get the others out.

City officials have scheduled another briefing for 4 p.m. to further discuss investigations that have been conducted in regard to the property where the fire broke out, as well as the Department of Licenses and Inspections’ prior contacts with the owners.

“There’s been pending investigations on this property for about two years now,” Deputy Mayor Everett Gillison said.

City officials said the city flag will be flown at half-staff for 30 days in honor of the city’s fallen , and they thanked the Phillies for a moment of silence that was held prior to Monday’s home opener at Citizens Bank Park.