1954 — Oct 28, Fumes, Chemical Tank Explosion, Charles W. Berg Labs, Philadelphia– 10

–11 Philadelphia Fire Fighters’ Union. “Philadelphia Firefighters Will Dedicate Memorial…”
–10 FEMA/NETC, Learning Resource Center. “Charles Berg Laboratory.” Historic Fires. 2011
–10 International Association of Fire Fighters. [Charles Berg Laboratory Fire]
–10 National Fire Protection Assoc. Spreadsheet on Large Loss of Life Fires (as of Feb 2003).
–10 Pence and Masi. “P.F.D. History.” Facebook page accessed 4-30-2023.
–10 Woodworth. “Inadequate Vents on Flammable Liquid Tanks.” NFPA Quarterly, 53/3, Jan, 1960, p208.

Narrative Information

International Association of Fire Fighters: “On October 28, 1954, at 6:07 AM, Engine 2, Ladder 3 and Battalion 6 were dispatched to 1827-29 N 5th Street to investigate fumes coming from the Charles W. Berg Laboratories building. Upon arrival, companies forced entry into the building and were searching for the source of the fumes when they saw a puff of smoke coming from a large tank in the rear yard. Battalion Chief News immediately requested the box assignment. At 6:10 AM Box 2825, Germantown and Montgomery Avenues was struck out.

“Once the box alarm companies were on scene, the officers and firefighters gathered in the yard to try to figure out how they were going to handle the situation. Suddenly, the tank exploded, hurling pieces of metal at the firefighters and releasing its contents, a bluish fluid. The fumes given off by the fluid had the firefighters gasping for breath. Deputy Chief Thomas A. Kline, Deputy 2, was struck in the head by a metal fitting from the tank and was killed instantly. The force of the blast was so great that the helmets of some members were found on nearby roofs.

“Battalion Chief News was badly injured and staggered from the building to strike the second alarm, his last act before he died and at 6:18 the Second Alarm on Box 2825 was hiked out. Soon the companies that responded on the Second Alarm were on scene and assisted…in evacuating the injured members. Area hospitals were flooded with injured firemen.

“Killed in the initial blast were

Deputy Chief Thomas A. Kline,
Deputy 2, Battalion Chief John W. Magrann, Battalion 3 and
Battalion Chief John J. News, Battalion 6.

“Later that day,

Fireman Joseph J. Bandos, Engine 2 and
Fireman James F. Tygh, Engine 29, succumbed to their injuries.

“On October 29, Fireman James Doyle, Engine 29, Fireman Thomas Wilson, Ladder 3, Lieutenant Charles Holtzman, Ladder 3, and Fireman Joseph Vivian, Ladder 3, died from their injuries.

“Fireman Bernard Junod, Engine 2, lost his fight for life on November 3.

“At least twenty-five firefighters and policemen were injured, some critically. One of those critically injured, Fireman Walter E. Lyszkowski, was left permanently disabled and finally passed away on August 8, 1958.

“The tank that exploded was an aluminum storage tank thirteen feet high and six feet in diameter with a capacity of four thousand gallons. It contained a textile cleaning solvent that reacted with remnants of coconut oil that had previously been stored in it. The resultant reaction created phosgene gas. Additionally, the relief valve on the tank was clogged and the pressure built in the tank, causing it to explode and release the poisonous gas….” (International Association of Fire Fighters. [Charles Berg Laboratory Fire].)

Pence and Masi: “….The investigations that immediately followed this tragedy revealed that the owners of the Berg Laboratories did not have the proper permits for the installation and operation of the two storage tanks on the property. Furthermore, there was a large outcry for the criminal prosecution of the owners. However, then District Attorney Richardson Dilworth determined that there was no basis for criminal action, while civil action would be left to the individual families and victims of this tragedy….” (Pence, Mike and Greg Masi. “P.F.D. History.” Facebook page accessed 4-30-2023.)

Philadelphia Fire: “On October 28, 1954, at 6:07 AM, Engine 2, Ladder 3 and Battalion 6 were dispatched to 1827-29 N 5th Street to investigate fumes coming from the Charles W. Berg Laboratories building. Upon arrival, companies forced entry into the building and were searching for the source of the fumes when they saw a puff of smoke coming from a large tank in the rear yard. After all the fire companies called were on scene the tank exploded, hurling pieces of metal at the firefighters and releasing its poisonous contents. In all, eleven members of the Philadelphia Fire Department died as a result of injuries received at this incident. During November 1954, City Council, at the urging of the mayor and the Fire and Police Commissioners, established the Survivor’s Fund. This fund was established as a result of the Berg explosion.” (Philadelphia Fire Fighters’ Union. “Philadelphia Firefighters Will Dedicate Memorial to Honor Eleven Firefighters Killed…”)

Woodworth/NFPA: “On October 28, 1954, in Philadelphia, Pa., ten firemen were killed when a pressure tank ruptured violently. A chemical reaction took place in the flammable liquid in the tank and because of a plugged, inadequate one-inch vent, the build-up of pressure from the reaction caused the tank to fail.” (Woodworth. “A Life Hazard—Inadequate Vents on Flammable Liquid Tanks.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, 53/3, January, 1960, pp. 208.)

Sources

Federal Emergency Management Agency. Historic Fires. 8-26-2011. FEMA, National Emergency Training Center, Learning Resource Center. “Charles Berg Laboratory.” Accessed at: http://www.lrc.fema.gov/disasters_fires.html

International Association of Fire Fighters. [Charles Berg Laboratory Fire]. Accessed at: http://www.iaff22.org/items/BergProgramText.pdf

National Fire Protection Association. Spreadsheet on Large Loss of Life Fires (as of Feb 2003). (Email attachment to B. W. Blanchard from Jacob Ratliff, NFPA Archivist/Taxonomy Librarian, 7-8-2013.)

Pence, Mike and Greg Masi. “P.F.D. History.” Facebook page accessed 4-30-2023 at: https://m.facebook.com/154080704644081/photos/the-berg-explosionbymike-pence-greg-masiphoto-courtesy-of-wwwiaff22orgoctober-28/839036162815195/

Philadelphia Fire Fighters’ Union, International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 22. “Philadelphia Firefighters Will Dedicate Memorial to Honor Eleven Firefighters Killed at the Berg Laboratories on October 28, 1954.” Accessed 5-7-2009 at: http://iaff22.org/index.cfm?titles=1&Section=28&PageNum=142

Woodworth, Miles E. “A Life Hazard—Inadequate Vents on Flammable Liquid Tanks.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 53, No. 3, Jan, 1960, pp. 208-210.