The FDNY community marked the 48th anniversary of the Waldbaum’s Supermarket fire on August 2, 2026, remembering six firefighters killed in one of the most tragic fires in department history.

The fire occurred on August 2, 1978, at the Waldbaum’s supermarket near Ocean Avenue and Avenue Y in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. The store was undergoing renovations when flames spread into concealed areas beneath its bowstring timber-truss roof. The incident eventually escalated to four alarms.

As firefighters operated above the fire, a large section of the roof suddenly collapsed, sending 12 firefighters into the burning supermarket. Six survived, while Lt. James E. Cutillo, Firefighters Charles S. Bouton, Harold F. Hastings, James P. McManus, William O’Connor and George S. Rice were killed. Another 34 firefighters, one emergency medical technician and one NYPD Emergency Service officer were injured.

The six firefighters left behind 18 children, and their families, fellow firefighters and generations of FDNY members have continued to honor their memory. The tragedy also became an important lesson in the dangers of bowstring-truss construction, concealed fire and sudden structural collapse.

Nearly five decades later, Waldbaum’s remains an important part of FDNY history. The intersection near the former supermarket was later dedicated as “Firemen’s Corner” in memory of the six firefighters, ensuring their sacrifice and the lessons learned from the fire are never forgotten.

(1RN News Desk Helped Contributed to This Story)