The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the
following firefighter fatalities:

Name: Robert Beddia
Rank: Firefighter
Age: 53
Gender: Male
Status: Career
Years of Service: 23
Date of Incident: 08/18/2007
Time of Incident: 1500 hours
Date of Death: 08/18/2007

Name: Joseph Graffagnino
Rank: Firefighter
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Status: Career
Years of Service: 8
Date of Incident: 08/18/2007
Time of Incident: 1500 hours
Date of Death: 08/18/2007


Fire Department: Fire Department City of New York
Address: 9 Metro Tech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Telephone: 718-999-2068
Fire Department Chief: Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta

Incident Description: Firefighters Beddia and Graffagnino were fatally
injured while battling a seven-alarm high-rise fire at the former
Deutsche Bank building at 130 Liberty Street in lower Manhattan.

The two firefighters became trapped in maze-like conditions on the 14th
floor of the building, which is undergoing demolition. They suffered
severe smoke inhalation and were taken to NY Downtown Hospital in
cardiac arrest where they succumbed to their injuries.

Funeral Arrangements: Firefighter Beddia's wake will be held from 1400
1700hrs. and 1900-2100hrs, Wednesday and Thursday at the Harmon Funeral Home, 571 Forest Ave., Staten Island. The funeral is tentatively
scheduled for Friday at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Burial will be at St.
Peter's Cemetery on Staten Island.

Funeral arrangements for Firefighter Graffagnino are pending.

Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending

To date, 81 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2007 as
a result of incidents that occurred in 2007.