Event marks 50th anniversary of oil refinery fire in Philadelphia – NBC10 Philadelphia

Fifty years after the Gulf oil refinery fire killed eight firefighters in South Philadelphia, a solemn ceremony was held at the city’s Fireman’s Hall Museum in Old City on Sunday to honor those that were lost.

The oil refinery fire that erupted on Aug. 17, 1975, took more than 24 hours to be put out and set off 11 alarms.

“It was bad. It turned very very bad very very fast,” said Retired Capt. John Higgins of the Philadelphia Fire Department.

More than 600 firefighters in all worked to put out the flames, with eight of them dying and even more of them getting injured.

“These brave men gave themselves for their fellow firefighters and the residents of Philadelphia.”

Families of the eight firefighters who died were at the event, including Jeannie McIntyre Green, whose father Hughy lost his life in the flames.

Hughy was a firefighter for 22 years who was set to retire the week of the fire.

“It’s in everybody’s hearts. It’s in everybody in the city’s heart,” she said. “So it is so nice to see everybody make such a memorial of these eight men who gave their lives for their fellow firemen.”

“He was proud to be a fireman. Proud of this city. Very happy to serve,” Green added.

Also at the ceremony were firefighters who worked to put out the fire all those decades ago.

Higgins, who was a lieutenant at the time of the fire, said he still struggles with survivor’s guilt and makes it a point to honor the fallen whenever he can.

“I will never forget it. Never,” Higgins said.

The department is on a mission to never forget those that died as well, as they remember those who died by upholding the lessons learned from from the fire even today.

“How we fight the fire, where apparatus are placed, how many members are put in positions that are in close proximity,” said Deputy Commissioner Gustav Baumann of the Philadelphia Fire Department.

The department is also remembering the eight firefighters that died with individualized plaques outside the museum, as well as kiosks inside that allow people to learn more about them and never forget their sacrifice.