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N.Y. FD remembers 1939 blaze that killed 9 firefighters

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On the anniversary of the Collins Block Fire, Syracuse honored nine lost and recognized a firefighter whose death is now officially considered a line-of-duty death

February 04, 2026 07:46 AM

By Vince Gasparini
syracuse.com

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Dozens of firefighters gathered at Firefighter Memorial Park in Syracuse on Tuesday morning to mark the 87th anniversary of the Collins Block Fire.

The 1939 blaze killed nine Syracuse firefighters when the roof of a cellar collapsed in the building at 225 E. Genesee St. in downtown Syracuse. It is the city’s deadliest fire.

| MORE: The ‘anniversary effect’: Processing the pain year after year

A bell tolled 46 times to honor all of firefighters who have died in the line of duty in the city’s history. Mayor Sharon Owens and Fire Chief Michael Monds spoke at the event.

Firefighters also formally honored Ethan C. Cunningham, a firefighter who died in 2017, recognizing his passing as an official City of Syracuse Line of Duty Death.

Cunningham died from a cardiac event at his home on Feb. 6 after his shift ended, according to Capt. Erik Caster, a spokesperson for the Syracuse Fire Department.

During that shift, Cunningham had responded to one emergency call and participated in “strenuous hose drill training,” according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

Monds also swore in the 24 newly hired firefighters.