New York City Firefighter. Succumbed to injuries received in a fire and explosion at the Brooklyn Union Gas Company on 26 February 1920. Five other fire fighters also died as a result of the incident. Was the son of William & Maria Johnston Hughes.
Below information courtesy of Find-A-Grave Contributor Gary Urbanowicz (#47731674):
Six members of Engine 251 lost their lives fighting this three-alarm fire in an oil storage tank at the Brooklyn Union Gas Company, Nassau Works at Kent Avenue and Rush Street. A fire started in the drip pan of a forty-foot long by ten-foot high oil tank. The oil tank was burning under a corrugated iron shed. Engine 251, the first company to arrive, started working on the fire in the tank. Other companies were working on protecting the numerous other tanks in the area. An explosion in one of the tar tanks was what the firemen were fighting. Across the Basin (Wallabout Market), a bare 150 yards, were a dozen ships near the Navy Yard’s Cob Dock. North of the gas company plant was the powerhouse of the BRT subway. The combined efforts of the fire companies failed to stem the flames in the fuel tank. The heat became so intense that the windows in the main building began to crack. Acting Chief Ludgate ordered his men away from a smaller tank to pour more water on the surrounding buildings when the tank exploded. The flames flared pointblank into the faces of many firemen, enveloping them suddenly, then clearing, leaving the men staggering back. Their faces and heads were burned almost black and they were dazed and almost crazed by the pain. As quick as it happened it was over. Other firemen ran over to help their brothers. Thomas Brennan and Michael Karkel were dead, burned to a crisp. Acting Chief Lugate, Captain Samuel Brown and Firemen Hughes, Ahrens, Means, Pacollney, James Brennan, and Callmeyer were all taken to area hospitals. Fireman James Brennan died on February 28 from his injuries. On March 3, both James J. Hughes #1 and Frank Callmeyer died a few hours apart. Both were badly burned in the fire. The last victim was Captain Brown who died on March 26 at his home. The other firemen all survived after a long recuperating period. The fire caused very little damage to the complex and only damaged the one oil tank that exploded. Engine 251 had nine men that day, three members were with the apparatus at the time of the explosion. (From "The Last Alarm" by Boucher, Urbanowicz & Melahn)
Below information courtesy of Find-A-Grave Contributor Gary Urbanowicz (#47731674):
Six members of Engine 251 lost their lives fighting this three-alarm fire in an oil storage tank at the Brooklyn Union Gas Company, Nassau Works at Kent Avenue and Rush Street. A fire started in the drip pan of a forty-foot long by ten-foot high oil tank. The oil tank was burning under a corrugated iron shed. Engine 251, the first company to arrive, started working on the fire in the tank. Other companies were working on protecting the numerous other tanks in the area. An explosion in one of the tar tanks was what the firemen were fighting. Across the Basin (Wallabout Market), a bare 150 yards, were a dozen ships near the Navy Yard’s Cob Dock. North of the gas company plant was the powerhouse of the BRT subway. The combined efforts of the fire companies failed to stem the flames in the fuel tank. The heat became so intense that the windows in the main building began to crack. Acting Chief Ludgate ordered his men away from a smaller tank to pour more water on the surrounding buildings when the tank exploded. The flames flared pointblank into the faces of many firemen, enveloping them suddenly, then clearing, leaving the men staggering back. Their faces and heads were burned almost black and they were dazed and almost crazed by the pain. As quick as it happened it was over. Other firemen ran over to help their brothers. Thomas Brennan and Michael Karkel were dead, burned to a crisp. Acting Chief Lugate, Captain Samuel Brown and Firemen Hughes, Ahrens, Means, Pacollney, James Brennan, and Callmeyer were all taken to area hospitals. Fireman James Brennan died on February 28 from his injuries. On March 3, both James J. Hughes #1 and Frank Callmeyer died a few hours apart. Both were badly burned in the fire. The last victim was Captain Brown who died on March 26 at his home. The other firemen all survived after a long recuperating period. The fire caused very little damage to the complex and only damaged the one oil tank that exploded. Engine 251 had nine men that day, three members were with the apparatus at the time of the explosion. (From "The Last Alarm" by Boucher, Urbanowicz & Melahn)
New York City Firefighter. Succumbed to injuries received in a fire and explosion at the Brooklyn Union Gas Company on 26 February 1920. Five other fire fighters also died as a result of the incident. Was the son of William & Maria Johnston Hughes.
Below information courtesy of Find-A-Grave Contributor Gary Urbanowicz (#47731674):
Six members of Engine 251 lost their lives fighting this three-alarm fire in an oil storage tank at the Brooklyn Union Gas Company, Nassau Works at Kent Avenue and Rush Street. A fire started in the drip pan of a forty-foot long by ten-foot high oil tank. The oil tank was burning under a corrugated iron shed. Engine 251, the first company to arrive, started working on the fire in the tank. Other companies were working on protecting the numerous other tanks in the area. An explosion in one of the tar tanks was what the firemen were fighting. Across the Basin (Wallabout Market), a bare 150 yards, were a dozen ships near the Navy Yard’s Cob Dock. North of the gas company plant was the powerhouse of the BRT subway. The combined efforts of the fire companies failed to stem the flames in the fuel tank. The heat became so intense that the windows in the main building began to crack. Acting Chief Ludgate ordered his men away from a smaller tank to pour more water on the surrounding buildings when the tank exploded. The flames flared pointblank into the faces of many firemen, enveloping them suddenly, then clearing, leaving the men staggering back. Their faces and heads were burned almost black and they were dazed and almost crazed by the pain. As quick as it happened it was over. Other firemen ran over to help their brothers. Thomas Brennan and Michael Karkel were dead, burned to a crisp. Acting Chief Lugate, Captain Samuel Brown and Firemen Hughes, Ahrens, Means, Pacollney, James Brennan, and Callmeyer were all taken to area hospitals. Fireman James Brennan died on February 28 from his injuries. On March 3, both James J. Hughes #1 and Frank Callmeyer died a few hours apart. Both were badly burned in the fire. The last victim was Captain Brown who died on March 26 at his home. The other firemen all survived after a long recuperating period. The fire caused very little damage to the complex and only damaged the one oil tank that exploded. Engine 251 had nine men that day, three members were with the apparatus at the time of the explosion. (From "The Last Alarm" by Boucher, Urbanowicz & Melahn)
Below information courtesy of Find-A-Grave Contributor Gary Urbanowicz (#47731674):
Six members of Engine 251 lost their lives fighting this three-alarm fire in an oil storage tank at the Brooklyn Union Gas Company, Nassau Works at Kent Avenue and Rush Street. A fire started in the drip pan of a forty-foot long by ten-foot high oil tank. The oil tank was burning under a corrugated iron shed. Engine 251, the first company to arrive, started working on the fire in the tank. Other companies were working on protecting the numerous other tanks in the area. An explosion in one of the tar tanks was what the firemen were fighting. Across the Basin (Wallabout Market), a bare 150 yards, were a dozen ships near the Navy Yard’s Cob Dock. North of the gas company plant was the powerhouse of the BRT subway. The combined efforts of the fire companies failed to stem the flames in the fuel tank. The heat became so intense that the windows in the main building began to crack. Acting Chief Ludgate ordered his men away from a smaller tank to pour more water on the surrounding buildings when the tank exploded. The flames flared pointblank into the faces of many firemen, enveloping them suddenly, then clearing, leaving the men staggering back. Their faces and heads were burned almost black and they were dazed and almost crazed by the pain. As quick as it happened it was over. Other firemen ran over to help their brothers. Thomas Brennan and Michael Karkel were dead, burned to a crisp. Acting Chief Lugate, Captain Samuel Brown and Firemen Hughes, Ahrens, Means, Pacollney, James Brennan, and Callmeyer were all taken to area hospitals. Fireman James Brennan died on February 28 from his injuries. On March 3, both James J. Hughes #1 and Frank Callmeyer died a few hours apart. Both were badly burned in the fire. The last victim was Captain Brown who died on March 26 at his home. The other firemen all survived after a long recuperating period. The fire caused very little damage to the complex and only damaged the one oil tank that exploded. Engine 251 had nine men that day, three members were with the apparatus at the time of the explosion. (From "The Last Alarm" by Boucher, Urbanowicz & Melahn)
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