After the Fire Podcast – Episode 7 - Toluene Tank Explosion

June 17, 2001
FDNY Father’s Day Fire
Astoria, Queens (NY)

Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 1, 3, 4, 5, and 9

On Sunday, June 17, 2001, which was Father’s Day, a routine fire call in a hardware store/taxpayer structure of Astoria, Queens, erupted into a 5-alarm fire that claimed the lives of three FDNY members – Lieutenant John Downing, Firefighter Brian Fahey, and Firefighter Harry Ford. This incident also hurt numerous others with nearly a dozen career-ending injuries.

We come together 20 years later to discuss this tragic event in this three-part series dedicated to the 2001 FDNY Father’s Day Fire. Through this podcast we will honor the fallen, hear the perspectives of the people that were there and directly related to the incident, and glean lessons learned from the unintended outcomes of this unfortunate fire.

Joining After The Fire Host Jon Nelson and the NFFF’s John Tippett are Retired FDNY Firefighter of Rescue 4 on the day of the incident, John Gaine; Retired FDNY Senior Man of Rescue 4 on the day of the incident, Mike Milner; Current Battalion Chief and Captain of Ladder 116 on the day of the incident, Pat Horne; Retired FDNY Lieutenant and NFFF/FDNY Liaison, Joe Minogue; and current FDNY Chief of Safety and former Rescue 4 member, Mike Meyers.