Investigation Continues Into Harlem Blaze That Killed FDNY Lt. Michael Davidson
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The FDNY announced wake and funeral arrangements Saturday for Lieutenant Michael Davidson, killed battling a massive blaze in Harlem late Thursday night.
The five-alarm fire broke out in the basement of the closed St. Nick's Jazz Pub, where a movie, "Motherless Brooklyn," was being filmed.
"The ability to save a life is our highest calling and the Engine Company's role is to extinguish the fire. The nozzle...
Posted by New York City Fire Department (FDNY) on Saturday, March 24, 2018
Davidson, a 15-year FDNY veteran and father of four, died at Harlem Hospital after being pulled from the burning building on Saint Nicholas Avenue near 148th Street.
On Saturday, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said the 37-year-old had been posthumously promoted to lieutenant.
.@NYCMayor Bill de Blasio and Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro today announced the posthumous promotion of Firefighter Michael R. Davidson to Lieutenant https://t.co/sfM3ZGpIzw pic.twitter.com/S3sQ0IWbaH
— FDNY (@FDNY) March 24, 2018
All day, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, NYPD arson explosion squad and city buildings department were on the scene investigating. Fire marshals are trying to get into the basement to figure out the cause.
CBS2's Lisa Rozner spoke with the building's owner Saturday.
Rozner: "There's some reports that there was some boiler work being done this week. Is that true?"
Vincent Lampkin: "We regularly -- you know, people want heat, there was a snowstorm -- regularly checking heat, checking hot water, regular."
The owner said he's been told to demolish the building down to the basement so investigators can get there safely.
"I'm so sorry about the man, the young man who died," Lampkin said.
Director and actor Edward Norton posted on Instagram that the crew was "filming in a bar and an apartment within the building and noticed smoke rising up into where we were working."
The bar was once a thriving jazz club.
Roberta Alloway told Rozner she was the manager there for a decade, welcoming the likes of Stevie Wonder and Wynton Marsalis.
"When I saw it, my heart was hurting, I had a pain in my heart and I started crying," she said. "It's over. My history is gone."
Earlier Saturday, Engine Company 69 held an emotional ceremony, hanging black and purple bunting in honor of Davidson on the firehouse he called his second home.
The FDNY also held a moment of silence for him at its annual charity hockey game against the NYPD.
Congrats to the #FDNY Hockey Team, who won the annual FDNY vs #NYPD Charity Hockey Game in a shootout. First Deputy Commissioner Kavanagh represented FDNY in the opening ceremony, and a moment of silence was held for all members lost this year to illness and in the line-of-duty pic.twitter.com/zkN0nkpTg0
— FDNY (@FDNY) March 24, 2018
Viewings will be held Sunday and Monday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Thomas F. Dalton Funeral Home in Floral Park, New York. The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown, Manhattan.
Wake and Funeral Information for Firefighter Michael R. Davidson: https://t.co/FPRrxJ66b0 pic.twitter.com/svuFypW4ST
— FDNY (@FDNY) March 24, 2018
The New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund has promised to provide financial support for Davidson's family. To learn more about the fund or to donate, click here.
The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation has also pledged $100,000 to help pay off the family's mortgage. To learn more about the foundation or to donate, click here.
The film's production crew said it will work with the foundation to assist, too.