New York is a city in mourning after FDNY firefighter Michael Davidson was killed in a movie set blaze in Harlem. Marc Santia and Erica Byfield report. 
 
 What to Know A 15-year veteran of the FDNY died from his injuries he suffered while battling a massive fire at a movie set for an Ed Norton film 
 
 Michael Davidson leaves behind his wife and four young children after he died in the blaze on St. Nicholas Avenue in Harlem, the FDNY says 
 
 Two other firefighters suffered serious burns and are being treated at an area hospital, according to Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro 
 
 A decorated FDNY firefighter and father of four young children died when a fire erupted in a Harlem apartment building where a star-studded movie directed by Edward Norton had a shoot overnight, officials say. 
 
 Michael R. Davidson, a 37-year-old Floral Park resident who has been with the FDNY for 15 years, died from his injuries while battling the fire at a five-story building on St. Nicholas Avenue and 149th Street, the FDNY said early Friday. 
 
 The blaze broke out on the set of "Motherless Brooklyn," which, according to IMDB, is being directed by Norton and stars Bruce Willis, Willem Dafoe, Alec Baldwin, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Leslie Mann. 
 
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 An NBC 4 New York photographer spoke to one of the actors, who said they had just finished filming for the day when they smelled smoke while they were breaking down. They called the fire department around 11 p.m. Thursday. 
 
 Davidson was the nozzleman, meaning his job was to run the hoseline of Engine 69, which was the first to arrive at the five-alarm scene. The crew rushed to the basement, but the FDNY said once they got down there, the fire got worse, forcing the firefighters to retreat from the building. Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said Davidson somehow got separated from his group "inside the rapidly deteriorating fire conditions." 
 
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 In FDNY audio from a deadly fire in Harlem Thursday night, firefighters can be heard reporting a fellow member missing. Warning: audio may be distressing to some. (Published Friday, March 23, 2018) 
 
 They turned back to search for him. When firefighters found him, he was unconscious. He later died of critical injuries sustained while battling the blaze. 
 
 Officials said two other firefighters suffered serious burns in the blaze. Those injured firefighters are being treated at an area hospital's burn center. Three other civilians suffered minor injuries. 
 
 Davidson, who has been cited for his bravery and life-saving actions four times during his career, leaves behind his wife and four young children -- three daughters, ages 7, 3, and 1, and a 6-year-old son. He comes from a long line of firefighters. His father, Robert, who is now retired worked in the same firehouse as Davidson. His brother, an 11-year veteran, works at Engine 88 in the Bronx. 
 
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 Funeral arrangements are pending. A procession of FDNY trucks escorted his body to a funeral home on Long Island Friday afternoon. Local FDNY trucks and firefighters stood on overpasses on the route, solemnly saluting Davidson's procession as it passed. 
 
 Mourners filed to Davidson's firehouse throughout the day Friday; some cried, others left flowers outside. 
 
 Emotional Procession Through NYC for Fallen Firefighter 
 
 The body of fallen firefighter Michael R. Davidson is loaded onto an FDNY EMS truck before being taken escorted by a procession on Long Island Expressway to a funeral home on Long Island. (Published Friday, March 23, 2018) 
 
 
 
 “Our entire department, our entire city, mourns this horrific loss of a very brave firefighter," Nigro said. "Our hearts and our prayers go out to the family and may God rest his soul." 
 
 Mayor de Blasio cut short a trip to return to New York City and toured the scene of the deadly fire along with Nigro Friday evening. 
 
 Davidson is the 1,150th firefighter to die in the line of duty in the FDNY's 153-year history. His death comes about a week after two FDNY firefighters, who were also members of the 106th Rescue Wing of the Air National Guard based in Westhampton Beach, died in a U.S. helicopter crash in Iraq. 
 
 Floral Park neighbor Peggy Healy was devastated to learn of his death. She said the beloved firefighter had just shoveled their snow a day ago. 
 
 "I yelled across and said, 'Thank you, Michael!' And he said, 'Oh, you're very welcome,'" said Healy. "He was such kind man, such a kind man. It's just devastating." 
 
 She said Davidson doted on his young children, and she'd always see him takng the kids to the bus stop and picking them up. 
 
 "He was always walking his beautiful little children, always walking and taking care of them," she said in tears. 
 
 The St. Nicholas Avenue building where the fire started is the old St. Nick’s Pub, according to a witness who lives nearby. The witness also told News 4 New York that the film has been shooting there for weeks. 
 
 The crime and drama film, which is set to be released next year, is about a lonely detective afflicted with Tourette syndrome, working to solve the murder of his only friend, according to IMDB. The movie is set in 1950 and is based on a novel by Jonathan Lethem. 
 
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 The producers of "Motherless Brooklyn" said in a statement that they immediately notified the fire department once they noticed smoke coming into the set and started alerting residents of the building so that they could get out. 
 
 "To our great sorrow, we now know that a NYC firefighter lost his life battling the blaze that grew, and our hearts ache in solidarity with his family. New York City firefighters truly are the bravest in the world," the statement said. "We watched firsthand with astonishment as they charged into the smoke to make sure all were safely out and then fought to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading, putting their lives on the line as they do every day. The FDNY are real life super-heroes and have our boundless admiration and gratitude.” 
 
 
 
 The FDNY said the fire was under control around 2:30 a.m. Friday, more than three hours after it broke out. It’s not clear what may have sparked the blaze. 
 
 Spelman Beubrua was led, gasping and choking, out of his smoky apartment by firefighters. He lost all of his possessions in the fire. He broke down when he said the only reason he was alive was because of the FDNY. 
 
 "I'm here talking to you, it's because of them," Beubrua said behind tears. "Then to come here and find out that one of them did not make it. It hurts. It hurts." 
 
 Top News Pics: Bush Presents Leadership Medal to U2's Bono ||||| HARLEM, N.Y. (AP) — A New York City firefighter has been killed after a massive fire broke out at a building in Harlem where a movie directed by Edward Norton was being shot. 
 
 New York Fire Department Commissioner Daniel Nigro said the blaze erupted in the basement of an unoccupied residential building about 11 p.m. Thursday. Nigro said two other firefighters suffered burns and were in serious condition, and three other people were injured. 
 
 FDNY officials identified the firefighter killed as 37-year-old Michael R. Davidson, a 15-year department veteran. They say Davidson is survived by a wife and four children. 
 
 Eric Phillips, Mayor Bill de Blasio's press secretary, tweeted: "This is an awful night." 
 
 The blaze broke out on the set of "Motherless Brooklyn," starring Norton, Bruce Willis, Willem Dafoe and Alec Baldwin. ||||| Mothers and their children frantically scrambled down fire escapes to survive the inferno that consumed their Bronx homes. 
 
 They dashed out into the frigid night in whatever they were wearing, without jackets, without shoes, just holding on to their lives. 
 
 They were the lucky ones. 
 
 A raging fire quickly swept through the five-story building on Prospect Ave. at E. 187th St. — taking with it 12 lives — including a 1-year-old child. 
 
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 The toddler’s final moments were spent in a bathtub, held by its mother, as they perished, sources told the Daily News. 
 
 Heartbreak was etched of the faces of firefighters and medics who tried in vain to save the victims. 
 
 Five people perished inside the 25-apartment building, and seven died at two hospitals, authorities said. Three of the other victims were children. 
 
 Four others were in critical condition at St. Barnabas Hospital and Jacobi Medical Center, officials said. 
 
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 FDNY firefighters battle raging blaze in the five-story building on Prospect Ave. at E. 187th St. in Belmont, Bronx. (Sam Costanza for New York Daily News) 
 
 Twelve other people were rescued from the building, Mayor de Blasio said. 
 
 Among the missing is a U.S. Army soldier. 
 
 Kwabena Mensah, 62, said his 28-year-old son, Emmanuel, was home for the holidays. Mensah said his son’s roommate last saw him when the fire broke out on the third floor. 
 
 “He was telling the roommate to not come out of the apartment because there was smoke. But when they rescued everyone from the windows, we couldn’t find him. I went to four hospitals, I can’t find him,” Mensah told The News. 
 
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 At St. Barnabas Hospital, Brian Whittaker, 36, was lending his support to an injured friend’s relatives. 
 
 “It's such a tragedy because they lost so many family members,” Whittaker explained. “The rest of the family is upstairs in the back. They keep passing out and crying. The father is burnt up real bad.” 
 
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 Whittaker’s friend was badly burned and is in a coma at Jacobi Medical Center. The man’s daughter and three nieces were killed, Whittaker explained. 
 
 “They were on the fifth floor so they weren't able to make it. Who knows how intense the heat was? I saw it on the news and got a call from a bunch of friends. We came over here around midnight and been here since.” 
 
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 Witnesses recalled terror in the bone-chilling night. 
 
 Thierme Diallo fled the building in a panic, awoken by a neighbor. 
 
 Emmanuel Mensah, 28, is still missing. (Obtained by Daily News) 
 
 "Someone knocked on my door yelling 'Fire! fire! fire!’ I left my cellphone. I took only my wallet because I need to save myself." 
 
 Diallo shivered in his sandals and gym shorts. 
 
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 “I don't know how I got out. By the exit there was glass coming down in the flames. I didn't have socks or shoes. Nothing.” Luc Hernandez, a fourth-floor resident, said she came home about 15 minutes after the fire started and “saw black smoke everywhere.” 
 
 The shaken 37-year-old told The News she rushed into her apartment, grabbed her 11- and 7-year-old boys and scrambled down the fire escape. 
 
 Meanwhile, someone who lives across the street from the blaze said he saw children rushing down metal grate fire escapes. 
 
 “All they had was shorts and shirts,” Rafael Gonzalez said. “No socks. No nothing. I know they were cold. They were screaming for help.” 
 
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 Firefighters were battling the inferno in cold and icy conditions. (Gregg Vigliotti for New York Daily News) 
 
 Gonzalez, 19, said it seemed like the firefighters were so busy battling the blaze they couldn’t help the kids right away. 
 
 Another resident, Esther Sakyi, 49, was making a phone call in her fourth-floor bedroom around 7 p.m. when she first noticed something was amiss. 
 
 “I was so cold so I went to the living room to see if the heater was working and smelled smoke,” Sakyi told the Daily News on an MTA bus headed for a hotel in Brooklyn where evacuees will be temporarily housed. “I rushed to open the door and the smoke just hit me and pushed me back so I closed it and went to the fire escape.” 
 
 
 
 She fled into the frigid night before putting on her clothes. 
 
 “I was naked,” she said. “I didn’t have time to put clothes on. I didn’t know what was going to happen.” 
 
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 The smell from the thick smoke lingered long after the flames were gone as Mayor de Blasio visited the fire scene. 
 
 Mayor de Blasio seen (r.) speaking to and comforting a woman outside the Prospect Ave. five-story building in the Bronx, Thursday night. (Gregg Vigliotti for New York Daily News) 
 
 “This is the worst fire tragedy we have seen in this city in at least a quarter of a century,” de Blasio said standing on a street filled with black ice. 
 
 “We’re shocked by this loss,” Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said, calling the tragedy “historic.” 
 
 The men spoke just blocks away from a 1990 arson at the Happy Land Social Club that claimed the lives of 87 people. 
 
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 More than 160 firefighters responded to the five-alarm blaze near the Bronx Zoo. The inferno broke out at 6:51 p.m. on the first floor and quickly spread upward. Firefighters responded in three minutes, after receiving more than a dozen 911 calls. 
 
 The investigation remains active and ongoing. The cause of the fire is to be determined by FDNY Fire Marshals. 
 
 Sources said the blaze may have been sparked by a space heater, but de Blasio said it was too early in the investigation to tell. 
 
 Building residents pictured shivering underneath a Red Cross blanket after being evacuated from the Bronx five-story apartment building. (James Keivom/New York Daily News) 
 
 A database in the New York City Housing Preservation and Development revealed one of the apartments on the first floor — where the fire started — had open violations for bad carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. 
 
 Attempts to reach the building owners were unsuccessful. 
 
 Milka Garcia, who lives on the fifth floor of the building said she came home to find her children had been evacuated. 
 
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 Garcia, 40, said her three kids — one girl and two boys — saw tons of smoke and had to get out through an emergency door. 
 
 She said her 10-year-old daughter went to school with one of the victims, who’s about 8 years old, at Public School 205. 
 
 “This is horrible,” Garcia said of the fire. “It makes me sad because they were my neighbors, and friends of my daughter’s.” 
 
 The fire broke out at 6:51 p.m. on the first floor and quickly spread upward. (James Keivom/New York Daily News) 
 
 City Councilman Ritchie Torres said he cried when he learned a child was among the dead in the disaster inside his district. 
 
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 “It’s traumatic and tragic,” he said. “The only silver lining is the heroism of the FDNY.” 
 
 “We're all struggling with unanswered questions and broken hearts,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. 
 
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 With Elizabeth Elizalde, Rocco Parascandola, Ginnie Teo, Bruce Diamond ||||| It is with deep regret that FDNY announces the death of Firefighter Michael R. Davidson. Firefighter Davidson, 37, was assigned to Engine Company 69 and bravely served the Department for 15 years. He was cited for bravery on four separate occasions. Firefighter Davidson was critically injured while fighting a 5-alarm fire in Manhattan. He was transported to Harlem Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. 
 
 Firefighter Davidson is survived by his wife, Eileen, and four children. He is the 1,150th member to make the Supreme Sacrifice while serving our city.
– The New York City Fire Department is mourning firefighter Michael Davidson, who died fighting a massive blaze that broke out on a film set in Harlem Thursday night. The fire started in a building being used to film Motherless Brooklyn, a 1950s-set drama directed by Ed Norton and starring Bruce Willis, the New York Daily News reports. "This is an awful night. We've lost an NYC firefighter," tweeted City Hall spokesman Eric Phillips. "Sick to my stomach." The FDNY says the five-alarm blaze broke out in the basement of the building around 11pm and was under control by around 2:30am, reports NBC New York. The building where the fire broke out was the former home of the historic St Nick's Jazz Pub, which shut down in 2011, the Daily News reports. Commissioner Daniel Nigro says two other firefighters are in serious condition with burns, and two other people were injured, the AP reports. The FDNY hasn't commented on possible causes. Davidson, 37, is survived by his wife and four children. He is "the 1,150th member to make the Supreme Sacrifice while serving our city," the department said in a Facebook post. It has been a tough month for the FDNY: Two of its firefighters were among seven Americans killed in a helicopter crash in Iraq last week.