New York Firefighter Who Survived 'Black Sunday' Shares Lessons

PALM HARBOR, FL — Palm Harbor firefighters got an inside look at the events surrounding one of New York City's deadliest fires when New York firefighter Eugene Stolowski spoke to them during weeklong training organized by the Pinellas County Training Chief.

Described as “Black Sunday," the events on Jan. 23, 2005, became one of the darkest days in the New York City Fire Department's history.

Three New York City firefighters were killed in two fires.

Two died at a tenement fire in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx and four others were critically. Another firefighter died in the East New York section of Brooklyn.

It was the deadliest day for the FDNY since the World Trade Center attack on Sept. 11, 2001.

Stolowski was among the six firefighters who were battling a three-alarm fire in the Bronx. While searching for occupants, the fire and heat rapidly intensified, forcing the trapped firefighters to jump out a fourth-floor window to the ground below.

All sustained critical injuries including Stolowski. Three died from their injuries.