Waldbaum’s Supermarket Fire

The Walbaums’s Supermarket fire occurred on August 2, 1978. Six firefighters died in the line of duty when the roof of the burning supermarket collapsed, plunging 12 firefighters into the flames. The fire began in a hallway near the compressor room as crews were renovating the store and quickly escalated. Thirty four firefighters, one emergency medical technician and one emergency services police officer were injured in the fire and the tragedy is remembered as one of the worst disasters in New York City Fire Department’s 143 year history.