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“Without the firemen, we have nothing,” mayoral candidate Karen Brown and resident of Ninth and Mifflin streets, said sitting outside of the Engine 53. Less than a year ago, homes at Fourth and McKean streets — just a block from the firehouse — fought against the fiery rage of autumn flames.
Firefighters from across Philadelphia will gather outside Engine 53, 414-16 Snyder Ave., to celebrate the second annual Fireman’s Appreciation Dinner noon to 8 p.m. Saturday.
“Even if the firefighters are not on the clock, they’re out there helping,” Tina Curtin, the head coordinator of the event, said.
The resident of Fourth and Jackson streets felt moved by the heroism and dedication exuded by the firefighters at about 5:30 a.m. Oct. 7 when a fire broke out in an apartment building on the 2000 block of South Fourth Street.
“It was petrifying. The smell was so strong. You could actually taste it, and I live two blocks away,” she said of the blaze that took about two hours to get under control and relit itself at about 9 a.m. the same day.
She recalled firefighters running down the street in an effort to save their neighbors.
“These guys took it personal,” she said.
Within two days, the neighborhood organized an Appreciation Fire Drop-off. The community gathered enough food, furniture and other household products for about 13 of the families affected.
In the aftermath, Curtin felt obliged to show Engine 53 gratitude for their commitment to saving lives.
“The firemen don’t get recognition for anything,” she said.
Curtin held last year’s dinner Oct. 30 with about 75 firemen in attendance. Almost all of the victims of the fire came to the dinner and paid tribute by donating food.
“I was thanked so much that I thought we have to do this again. I want to keep it as a tradition,” Curtin said.
This year Fourth Street from Snyder Avenue to Jackson Street will be blocked off for the event. The night will feature music and food donated from local eateries such as Pat’s King of Steaks, 1237 E. Passyunk Ave., and Tony Luke’s Cheesesteaks, 39 E. Oregon Ave.
“I wish that everyone out there was kind and not ignorant because if they were, the whole world would be such a better place,” Curtin said referring to the good-hearted attitudes of her neighborhood firemen.
Although last year’s dinner was for South Philadelphia firefighters, all firefighters across Philadelphia are welcome to attend this year’s event.
The firefighters have shown gratitude for the recognition because their job proves dangerous everyday. With the addition of last year’s brown outs — the City’s measure to eliminate overtime by shutting down select stations periodically for either the 10-hour day shift or the 14-hour night shift — the hazard of their job has only increased.
“If you hired more people, there’d be less overtime,” Michael Conroy, sergeant of arms for Local 22, said.
Brown outs have been in effect in Philadelphia since Aug. 2, 2010, and at Engine 53, occur every 12th night. On those nights, the firefighters are dispersed to other, random firehouses throughout Philadelphia ranging as far as Northeast Philadelphia.
“It’s different than working with the guys you work with everyday. You’re not with your own guys, your brothers,” Chuck McQuilkin, the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 22’s battalion stewart, said.
Engine 24, 1200 S. 20th St., and Engine 3, 200-10 Washington Ave., round out the trio of Engines affected in South Philly although they both cease operations during select day-shifts.
“Anytime you have a station closed, you’re increasing the risk of something bad to happen … it allows for response time to go down,” Mark Squilla, a resident of Front Street and Snyder Avenue and City Council’s 1st District Democratic nominee, said.
It varies each day and night which engine will be browned out. Six companies can be out of service in a 24-hour period.
“It’s not safe for the people. We live in our own neighborhoods. We realize how unsafe they are. We don’t want brown outs,” Conroy said.
Residents will honor that devotion Saturday.
“To me and all of the Local 22 members, it’s rewarding to know the community is behind us and we appreciate that they recognize what we do for them,” McQuilkin said. SPR
To donate or to get information on how to attend, contact Tina Curtin at 267-506-0264 or tcurtin506@gmail.com.
Contact the South Philly Review at editor@southphillyreview.com.
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