“It is with deep regret that the Fire Commissioner Ayers announces the death of Lt. Robert Neary and FF Daniel Sweeney, both from Ladder 10, who were killed in the line of duty. Lt Neary and FF Sweeney died on Box 361 Front and York Sts, which was dispatched at 0313 hrs on April 9th, 2012.”

That was the message released just after 10 a.m. on April 9, 2012 announcing the deaths of two of Philly’s finest as they died in the line of duty, battling a 5-alarm blaze at the old Thomas Buck Hosiery Factory and a discount furniture store adjacent to it on the 2400 block of Kensington Avenue.

Three other fire fighters were injured in the blaze when a wall collapsed during the fire and were taken to temple University Hospital for treatment.

Ladder 10 is located at Kensington and Castor Avenues and was one of the fire companies that answered the call when flames broke out just before 3:15 a.m. inside the abandoned Thomas Buck Hosiery Factory, located near the intersection of Jasper and York Streets.

About two hours later, the fire was under control but not before damaging half a dozen homes nearby causing power to be shut off and residents evacuated for safety.

The five firefighters were inside the discount furniture store, which had caught fire as the result of shooting flames and burning material coming from the warehouse.

It seems the fire, though a devastating tragedy was not a surprise. Just last week, Ryan Briggs of Hidden City Daily and the website www.hiddencityphila.org wrote an in depth piece about the unkempt condition of the Buck Hosiery Building and neighbor complaints about the absentee owners and safety hazards.

According to Briggs’ article-The 19th century mill building had been vacant for several years, while its absentee owners racked up more than $60,000 in unpaid property taxes, liens and building code violations. The property had deteriorated significantly since Yechiel and Michael Lichtenstein of Brooklyn-based YML Realty Holdings purchased the building in 2009, and suffered chronic break-ins. Lichtenstein told the Daily that he “didn’t know” who was responsible for managing and maintaining the building, but was sure “the building is being kept up.”

The East Kensington Neighborhood Association asked YML Realty Holdings in a letter to maintain the building and clean up the trash accumulating around the property. They never received a response. EKNA president Jeff Carpineta told the Daily that he was worried that if the building wasn’t better sealed it might go up in flames, like several other vacant mill buildings in the neighborhood that have burned down in recent years.

The Lichtenstein’s own a number of properties in Philadelphia, and have made a habit of dunning the City. According to court records, they have accumulated Business Privilege Tax, water and sewage rents, property tax, and building code violations. In virtually every instance they failed to appear in court. Last month the City filed to bring the property to Sheriff’s Sale for unpaid taxes, but the process takes at least six months  to complete, and can be cancelled if the owner pays the taxes in the interim.

Awesome reporting and clairvoyance by The Hidden City to uncover a building that was a disaster waiting to happen. You can view Briggs’ article in its entirety by visiting www.hiddencityphila.org.

There are so many buildings like this warehouse in Philadelphia with absentee out of state landlords that need to be addressed and safeguarded.

According to Sandy Salzman, Executive Director of New Kensington Community Development Corp., this tragedy is becoming a familiar situation, “Our community is deeply saddened by the loss of Lieutenant Robert Neary and firefighter Daniel Sweeney and deeply thankful for their heroic efforts to save nearby homes and businesses from the destructive fire at the Thomas Buck Building.  The fire that broke out early this morning is a truly tragic, but not unfamiliar situation.”

The community recognizes the asset that this building once was to the neighborhood, however, according to Salzman, “This past year brought vandals and squatters who illegally entered the building on a daily basis to strip it for materials and use it for nuisance activities. The fear this past year had been that this would become a huge fire hazard.”  It is tragic that those fears were realized this week.

“Sadly, this is yet another case of an absentee landowner who is speculating at a huge cost to this community,” said Salzman.  “The landowner demonstrated a lack of care and respect by not maintaining the building, allowing nuisance activities to occur, with the result of this neglect being a building burned to the ground and unnecessary loss of life. YML Realty Holdings owes $60,000 dollars in unpaid property tax and multiple liens that have accumulated on the property over the years, according to the office of property assessment. This particular building also has had multiple Licenses and Inspections violations over the years. The City of Philadelphia needs to figure out a way to hold these property owners accountable and protect our communities and the lives of those charged with protecting the public good.”

This tragedy sheds light on a situation that needs to be addressed and resolved in our City.  “The City needs to wield its authority to demand action from landowners,” according to Salzman, “And, they must make those demands in a timely manner to prevent further loss of our industrial history and, more importantly, further loss of life.”

Our condolences go out to the families of Lt. Robert Neary and Firefighter Daniel Sweeney and to their fellow firefighters and the entire Philadelphia Fire Department on their loss.  May God bless them, comfort and protect them all.