By Larry Celona and C.J. Sullivan
A firefighter was killed late Thursday while battling a blaze that broke out at a Harlem building where film crews were shooting a new Edward Norton and Bruce Willis movie, police and fire sources said.
Michael Davidson of Harlem’s Engine Company 69 — a father of four — was briefly reported missing after a mayday call was made from the fiery building, officials said.
Davidson was soon found and rushed to Harlem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, authorities said.
Two other firefighters were also listed in serious condition with burns early Friday at Weill Cornell Medical Center, though their wounds were not considered life-threatening, sources said.
Flames broke out in the basement of 773 St. Nicholas Ave. at about 11 p.m. No one was in the basement at the time, but film work was being done just outside on the set of “Motherless Brooklyn,” a movie set to be released next year, witnesses and officials said.
“They went down the stairs to fight the fire with Davidson as nozzleman,” FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro told reporters at Harlem Hospital early Friday.
“The fire was too heavy. They were forced to retreat and as they backed out, he (Davidson) got separated from the rest of the unit. He was found unconscious on the floor and despite the best efforts of the FDNY and EMTs, they were unable to revive him.”
Nigro added: “Our entire city mourns his loss.”
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