Lieutenant William Egan

Syracuse Fire Department

Date of Death: December 9, 1951

Lieutenant William Egan, a veteran officer of the Syracuse Fire Department, was killed in the line of duty during a structural collapse while operating at a commercial building fire at 208–216 West Genesee Street. He and another firefighter from Truck 2 had been ordered to the roof to perform vertical ventilation to relieve heat and smoke for crews working below. While they were operating, the fire‑weakened roof suddenly failed. His partner narrowly escaped, but Lieutenant Egan fell through the collapsing roof into the fire below. Due to the intensity of the fire and the heavy debris from the collapsed roof and floors, it took several hours before firefighters were able to recover his remains.