A New York City firefighter has been killed while fighting a fire on a movie set in Harlem.
Firefighter Michael Davidson, 37, was among those to respond to the 5-alarm fire that broke out in the basement of 773 St. Nicholas Avenue. That's where the film “Motherless Brooklyn” was being shot.
"Firefighter Davidson was the nozzleman of the first to arrive engine company, Engine 69. They encountered heavy fire. They did the best they could. The fire continued to advance. Units were forced to back out of the building," Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said.
As the firefighters tried to escape the flames, Davidson became separated from others.
“Members tried desperately to find Firefighter Davidson. When they did he was unconscious. Despite the best efforts of the members - members of our firefighting forces, EMS, and here at the hospital - they were unable to revive Michael,” Nigro said.
Davidson was pronounced dead at Harlem Hospital. He was a 15-year veteran of the FDNY and leaves behind four daughters.
Five others suffered non-life threatening injuries.
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The film, “Motherless Brooklyn,” stars Edward Norton and Bruce Willis. The movie is being filmed at the former home of the St. Nick's Pub.
"The sad part of it is that was a landmark. It was closed anyway and many, many famous jazz musicians used to go there," a neighbor told WOR's Alice Stockton-Rossini.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Photo Credit: Alice Stockton Rossini