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A three-alarm fire along Fabric Row resulted in the loss of a fireman just three days before the anniversary of the department’s dual loss last year.
Multiple fire companies were dispatched to Jack B. Fabrics, 748 S. Fourth St., 5:34 p.m. Saturday, according to the fire department.
The fire was under control by 9 p.m. However, while firefighters attempted to calm the flames, Capt. Michael R. Goodwin Sr. of Ladder 27, 414-16 Snyder Ave., fell from a third-floor roof, resulting in his death at the scene. The 53-year-old would have been with the department 30 years in September, and will receive a special honor from his peers.
“It is of small but meaningful comfort that he will be posthumously promoted to the rank of battalion chief,” Council President Darrell L. Clarke said in a statement.
Andrew Godlewski, a five-year veteran also of Ladder 27, was injured and transported to the hospital in stable condition. He has since been released.
“I am certain the entire City joins me in wishing him the speediest of recoveries,” Clarke said of Godlewski, 28, who received his injuries during an attempt to save Goodwin.
The Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
“There are no words to describe [Goodwin’s] heroism nor that of all of our members in their attempts to rescue him,” the firefighters’ union posted to its Facebook page. “The City of Philadelphia lost a hero.”
Goodwin is survived by his wife Kelly, daughter Dorothy Dunn, son Michael Jr., mother Elizabeth, two brothers, a sister and two grandchildren.
A viewing and memorial for Goodwin will be held 9 to 10:45 this morning at Northeast Philly’s Givinish Funeral Home. His service will be at Kensington’s St. Michael’s Lutheran Church with his internment to follow at Roslyn’s Hillside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations be made to the Firefighters’ Widow Fund, c/o Local 22, 415 N. Fifth St., Philadelphia PA, 19123.
Meanwhile, stores ravaged by the fire, which include Urban Princess Boutique, 750 S. Fifth St.; Platinum Real Estate, 752 S. Fourth St.; and Moon & Arrow, 754 S. Fourth St., whose owner Chelsea Pearce reported a temporary closing due to water and smoke damage from the fire on the store’s Facebook page Monday, also must rebuild. A moderator of Urban’s Facebook page vowed to do so Sunday.
“We are saddened by the loss of everything we worked so hard to achieve in the last year,” the moderator posted to the page, which previously publicized its upcoming April 26 one-year anniversary party.
Jack B. Fabrics, whose building’s demolition began Monday, also relayed a similar message on its website: “Due to a tragic fire, Jack B. Fabrics will be closed until further notice. We appreciate the support from the community during this difficult time and hope to serve you again soon.”
Business owners launched the Friends of Fourth Street Fund, which is under the guidance of the South Street Headhouse District, its Executive Director Michael E. Harris said.
“We are working with [Queen Village Neighbors Association] and the businesses and the community members to make sure we’re raising funds to be more effective for those in need,” he said noting details on fundraising efforts will become clearer in the coming days.
There were no other injuries in the fire, but Queen Village Neighbors Association board members opted to launch a Fabric Row Relief Fund Monday to help uninsured apartment tenants living above the stores to cope with the loss of their possessions.
“These folks were basically run out of their apartments with nothing,” the group’s president Jeff Hornstein said.
His group kicked off the effort with $500 of its own funds, and has raised more than $3,600 in donations, totaling more than $4,100 as of press time. George Nebinger and William Meredith schools, 601 Carpenter St. and 725 S. Fifth St., respectively, also will chip in by donating the proceeds from upcoming $1 dress down days to the fund.
“It’s an amazing thing when this community is under duress, how people come together,” Hornstein, who resides about two blocks away from the damage on the 300 block of Queen Street, said. ■
Contact Managing Editor Amanda L. Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117. Comment at southphillyreview.com/news/police-report.
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