Fire Marshals Determine Cause of Harlem Fire That Killed Firefighter Michael R. Davidson

May 8, 2018

Fire Marshals have determined that heat from a boiler ventilation flue pipe ignited nearby combustible materials and caused the fire in the cellar of 773 St. Nicholas Avenue where Firefighter Michael R. Davidson* was killed on March 23, 2018.

Among other findings from the Fire Department’s ongoing investigation are:

• The building’s sprinkler system – which was installed both in the first floor restaurant/nightclub as well as the staircase and apartments on the upper floors - had been shut off and did not activate to suppress the fire once it spread from the place of origin in the cellar (which was not sprinklered).
• Fire resistant materials had been removed in the first floor restaurant/nightclub that exacerbated fire conditions as the fire extended from the cellar.

In addition to the Fire Marshal’s investigation, the Department’s Safety Command is conducting a complete and comprehensive investigation into the fire and death of Lieutenant Davidson.

*Firefighter Davidson was posthumously promoted to Lieutenant.