Firefighter Killed In Harlem Blaze Honored at Firehouse

HARLEM, NY — A firefighter who served his entire 15-year career at Harlem's Engine Company 69 firehouse was honored with a memorial ceremony following his death in the line of duty.

Michael Davidson, of Floral Park on Long Island, was honored with a plaque at the company's firehouse Saturday, which marked exactly one year since his death. FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said Davidson "was a natural born firefighter."

"From his first days as a Probie here, he demonstrated a toughness and leadership well beyond his years. Leadership is not only about your rank, it’s about how you handle yourself, how hard you work, and how much effort you put into setting a strong example for others to follow," Nigro said during the ceremony.

The ceremony was attended by Davidson's family, including his wife and their four children–three daughters, ages 8, 4, and 2 and a son, 7. Numerous fire officials and firefighters from Engine Company 69 also attended the event.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was present during the plaque dedication and released a statement saying: "‪The courage it takes to be one of New York’s Bravest is rare. That’s why the loss we feel when we lose someone like Michael Davidson is so deep."

Davidson died while fighting a fire that broke out in a residential building being used as a movie set on March 23, 2018. Davidson was assigned to the nozzle when he got separated from firefighters inside the building's basement as the conditions inside the building deteriorated, fire officials said in 2018.

Firefighters recovered Davidson's body and he was rushed to Harlem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, fire officials said. He was a 15-year FDNY veteran of Engine Company 69 in Manhattan and had been cited for bravery and life-saving actions four times in his career, Nigro said.

The St. Nicholas Avenue and West 149th Street building where the fire broke out was being used as a set for the upcoming Bruce Willis and Edward Norton film "Motherless Brooklyn." Davidson's widow has since sued Norton's production company Class 5 Films for her husband's wrongful death.