FDNY Fire Fighters Killed in Fire Near Ground Zero

Robert Beddia

The lives of fallen Uniformed Fire Fighters Association of New York (UFA) Local 94 fire fighters Joseph Graffagnino and Robert Beddia were celebrated in separate funeral masses August 23 and 24.

Robert Beddia, 53, a 23-year veteran, and Joseph Graffagnino, 33, an eight-year veteran with FDNY – both with Ladder Company 5 and members of the Uniformed Firefighters Association Local 94 – became trapped while working the seven-alarm fire in the Deutsche Banking building. After running out of air, both suffered severe smoke inhalation and were taken to the hospital in cardiac arrest where they succumbed to their inhalation injuries.

Another five or six fire fighters were hurt while fighting the blaze, which began about 3:40 p.m. More than 475 fire fighters and 87 fire units responded to the fire. Its cause is not immediately known.

Both fallen fire fighters responded to the World Trade Center on September 11. That day, fire fighters from this firehouse were as high up as the 37th floor of the north tower, looking for survivors, and 11 of them never made it out.

Thousands of fire fighters, family and friends gathered to remember Beddia at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Graffagnino at St. Ephrems Roman Catholic Church

IAFF General President was among the mourners at both services. “Words cannot express the sadness that all fire fighters are feeling over the loss of Brothers Beddia and Graffagnino,” says Schaitberger. “Their dedication to duty and service will not be forgotten.”

Joseph Graffagnino

At the services, many stories of the fire fighters’ lives were recounted, but the horrific condition of the building and the circumstances that led to their deaths hung like a dark cloud in everyone’s minds.

"Our guys weren’t just fighting a fire in a vacant building, they were sent into a highly contaminated structure being torn down floor-by-floor because it was a toxic legacy remaining from the 9-11 attacks and a threat to the surrounding community,” says Steve Cassidy, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA) of New York Local 94.

Local 94 felt that the circumstances were questionable enough to call upon New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to conduct an independent investigation into the fire parallel to the investigation being conducted by Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau. Attorney General Cuomo’s office has agreed to the request.

Graffagnino is survived by his wife, Linda, and his children Mia, 4, and Joseph, 1. Beddia was not married and did not have any children, but he will be remembered as the “big brother” of Engine Company 24 and Ladder 5.

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September 13: Union: Aerial Fire Plan Was Ignored (New York Sun)

September 10: Fire Fighter Steve Olson Tells of Deutsche Bank Building Fire (Tribeca Trib)

August 31: MY BRO IS FDNY FALL GUY: ATTORNEY (New York Post)

August 30: Union says bigs knew of Deutsche tower peril (New York Daily News)

August 30: Deutsche Fire: Demoted Official Reports For Duty (WCBS TV)

August 30: FDNY captain fires back (Newsday)

August 29: Exclusive: FDNY Tragedy May Reach Top Brass (WCBS TV)

August 27: Pols: Hire ex-firefighters to inspect unsafe buildings (Newsday)

August 24: Two firefighters hurt as 300-pound jack plummets 23 floors (New York Daily News)

August 23: Toxic WTC Tower Hadn't Been Inspected (Associated Press)

August 23: Shocking lack of inspections at doomed site (New York Daily News)

August 23: FDNY Brass In Tragic Bungle (New York Post)

August 22: Wakes held for firefighters killed in Deutsche Bank fire (WABC)

August 22: Subcontractor at WTC site is dropped after deadly skyscraper fire (Associated Press)

August 21: Inspectors Say Many Flaws Cut Off Water in Fatal Ground Zero Blaze (New York Times)

August 21: Sent into a deathtrap (New York Daily News)

August 20: Firefighters Seek Answers In Deadly Deutsche Blaze (WCBSTV)

August 19: Two FDNY Fire Fighters Killed in Fire Near Ground Zero (International Association of Fire Fighters)