Sacrifices Made By Syracuse Firefighters Honored on Collins Block Fire Anniversary

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- All 45 Syracuse city firefighters who died in the line of duty were honored Friday in a ceremony at Fayette Firefighters Park.

The ceremony falls on the anniversary of the Collins Block fire. Nine Syracuse firefighters died in the fire and building collapse on Feb. 3, 1939.

Syracuse Fire Chief Paul Linnertz says says it's important for current firefighters to understand what the job was like for their predecessors, who had inferior equipment like tin helmets.

"It's literally just a piece of tin with felt inside of it. That's it," Linnertz said, "and to understand our traditions and our history I think makes them better firefighters."