Today is the 20 year anniversary of a horrific fire that claimed the life of three firefighters, injured 12 other firefighters and left a Philadelphia high-rise apartment building gutted for years.
Inscribed on the memorial to the three fallen firefighters:
"To sacrifice one's own safety in the service of others requires a courage that is rare. Those among us who do are true heroes."
The three deceased members of Engine Company 11 were Captain
David P. Holcombe (age 52), Firefighter Phyllis McAllister (43), and
Firefighter James A. Chappell (29).