Female firefighter is Philadelphia's first killed in the line of duty
"She had a strong worth ethic," said Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer. "She prided herself on working at busy fire companies."
WEST OAK LANE -- A Philadelphia firefighter was killed while fighting a fast-moving house fire in West Oak Lane early Tuesday.
She was an 11-year veteran and is the Philadelphia Fire Department's first female firefighter to be killed in the line of duty.
Her name was being withheld pending notification of all family members.
The fire was first reported at 2:49 a.m. Tuesday in the 1600 block of Middleton Street. Firefighters battled flames in the basement and also the upper floors. It took them 39 minutes to get the situation under control.
Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer said she became trapped in the basement as commanders were changing tactics and ordering the company to withdraw.
He said the firefighter was rushed to Einstein Medical Center with no vital signs and was pronounced dead a short time later.
At a news conference early Tuesday, Sawyer described her as a Philadelphia native and a dedicated, hard-working public servant who never shied away working in the busiest engine companies, most recently Engine 64 in the city's Lawncrest neighborhood.
"She had a strong worth ethic," Sawyer said. "She prided herself on working at busy fire companies."
Sawyer said he set a goal when he became commissioner in June that the department would never lose a member on his watch.
"I've already failed in one of my goals," a somber Sawyer said.
"We suffered a tragic loss here this morning," said Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of this firefighter who's made the ultimate sacrifice fighting a fire, (and) to all of our Philadelphia firefighters. Their family, our family, has suffered a loss."
All the residents in the home were able to get out safely.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation.
More than 40 Philadelphia firefighters have been killed in the line of duty since 1943, according to the International Association of Fire Fighters. The last was Capt. Michael Goodwin on April 6, 2013.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
