Heroic Philly Hazmat Captain Remembered for Bravery

James McGarrigle never claimed to be God, but for the desperate firefighters trapped in a burning high-rise, their air packs running out, the man who led them to safety certainly was a figure of salvation.

"When they saw his flashlight, they thought he was God," Jim's family said.

Jim had landed by helicopter on the roof of One Meridian Plaza, the 30-story high-rise in Center City, that cold February day in 1991, scene of one of the deadliest fires in city history.

A team of three firefighters reported they had become disoriented in the smoke and were running out of air. They died in the suffocating smoke.

Jim wasn't able to save them, but he freed several others who had become trapped above the fire and led them to the roof where they were picked up by helicopters.

The men who didn't make it had reported they were on the 30th floor, but they were actually on the 28th floor, where their bodies were found after the fire was controlled.

James McGarrigle, who easily earned the title of a firefighter's firefighter in his nearly 40 years of service, a highly respected and compassionate leader of men in one of the country's most dangerous occupations, died Saturday of cancer. He was 67 and lived in South Philadelphia.

The One Meridian Plaza fire raged for 19 hours and went to 12 alarms. Those killed were Capt. David Holcombe and Firefighters Phyllis McAllister and James Chappell, of Engine 11, 6th and South streets.

Jim McGarrigle was captain of the department's hazardous-materials team when he retired in 2006. He had joined the Fire Department in June 1967.

Over the years, Jim experienced many deadly blazes, including the Gulf Oil Corp. fire in 1975 that killed eight firefighters and injured 14 others. Jim was with Ladder 27 and was not directly involved in the fight, but lost some men from his company.

"He was the smartest man I ever worked with in the department," said retired fire Capt. Thomas Glennon, who worked with Jim in the hazmat unit for five years.

"He could discern problems," Tom said. "He was always concerned with the safety of his men. He was sensitive and caring. He taught me how to be a fire officer."

Jim was born in Philadelphia to Thomas McGarrigle and the former Catherine Lawess. He attended Sacred Heart Parochial School and graduated in 1965 from Bishop Neumann High School, now Ss. Neumann and Goretti Catholic High School, where he played basketball.

He later studied fire science at Community College of Philadelphia and Holy Family College, receiving an associate's degree.

He married Alice McGuckin on May 10, 1968.

After joining the Fire Department in 1967, he was assigned to Engine 20 at 10th and Cherry streets. In 1973, he was promoted to lieutenant and began to rotate among Ladder 27, 4th Street and Snyder Avenue; Ladder 11, 12th and Reed streets; and Ladder 5, Broad and Bainbridge.

When he was promoted to captain in 1982, he was assigned to the hazmat unit at Ladder 19, 24th and Ritner streets.

"Working with hazardous materials is dangerous and unpredictable," Tom Glennon said. "You never know what to expect. You need a knowledge of science, but you also need common sense. And Jimmy had it."

"Everybody loved him," his family said. "He was always happy to help anybody who needed him. He was very respected in the Fire Department."

Jim was a member of the Air Force Reserve and the Emerald Society, an organization of Irish firefighters.

Besides his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Alice Tomaszewski and Kerry Sullivan; three sons, James, Keith and Sean; a sister, Mary Boland; 18 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Services: Funeral Mass 10 a.m. tomorrow at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 1404 S. 3rd St. Friends may call at 7 tonight at Rogers Funeral Home, 1428 S. 3rd St. Burial will be at Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Marple.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Widows Fund, Local 22, International Association of Fire Fighters, 415 N. 5th St., Philadelphia, PA 19123, or the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research at jimmyv.org.

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