On August 2, 1978, six FDNY firefighters died in the line of duty when the bowstring timber truss roof of a burning Brooklyn supermarket collapsed, plunging twelve firefighters working on the roof into the flames. The fire began in a hallway near the compressor room as crews were renovating the store and quickly escalated to a fourth alarm. About thirty minutes after the fire was first reported, 24 firefighters were on the roof when the central portion gave way. A 4,000-square foot area opened and erupted into intense fire. A dozen firefighters were swallowed into the fire. Thirty four firefighters, one emergency medical technician and one Emergency Services police officer were injured during operations at the fire.

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