Late Foreman of Truck Co. No. 4 Brooklyn Fire Department who lost his life in the discharge of his duty at the burning of the Locust Hill Oil Refinery, Greenpoint Sept. 15th, 1882"∼During the heavy thunderstorm of Thursday evening, a sheet of lightning descended from the heavens, apparently divided, and one portion struck an oil tank situated on Newtown Creek in the 18th Ward of Brooklyn at 9 o'clock. A few moments later, a second flash struck the large tank of the Locust Hill Refinery. This tank held 80,000 barrels of crude petroleum and when the lightning struck, the oil burst into flames, lighting up the sky for miles around and filling the air with a dense black smoke. The Brooklyn firemen who had been called out were aided by the steam boat Brilliant. …..the flames appeared to be under control by 4:30 the following morning, when Chief Smith and Foreman Charles Keegan of Truck No 4 started on a reconnoitering expedition. At a burning tank, they discovered a workman and while checking on him they heard a hissing noise and a moment later, the tank gave way and a sea of oil and flame started towards the creek (them). The men ran for their lives and all escaped except for Keegan who was blinded by the smoke and flame. He ran in the wrong direction and was burned to death. Foreman Keegan was one of the most efficient firemen in the department and had been in the city employ for ten years." NY Times article Sept 16, 1882.∼A lighting bolt struck an oil tank in the Locust Grove Oil Works around 9:15 at night and a couple of minutes later another bolt hit a tank in Sone & Fleming Oil Company that contained 25,000 barrels of oil. Engine Companies 12, 15, and 13 (now FDNY Engines 212, 215, 213, respectively all since disbanded) and Ladder 6 (now FDNY Ladder 106) responded to the Locust Grove fire, while Engines 11, 16, 18 (now FDNY Engines 211, 216, 218 respectively) and Ladder 4 (now FDNY Ladder 104) went to work on the other tank fire. With no fire hydrants in the area both fires spread rapidly. Burning all night, the firemen fought hard to contain the blaze to the tanks already burning. Several canal boats and lighters were tied to the dock to start draining the tanks around 5:00 in the morning. Seven hand lines were being used to cool a tank of gasoline with about 4,000 barrels in it when it exploded. Chief Smith just finished talking to Foreman Charles Keagan of Ladder 4 (now Ladder 104) and was heading away from the tank when fire surrounded it. Not looking back, the Chief ran up the incline to safety. A leak developed in the gasoline tank and once the vapors found an ignition source, the pool exploded. After two minutes, every tank exploded until all three yards formed one massive fire. Workmen and firemen were picking themselves up and running for safety. Once all together, two workmen and Foreman Keagan were found to be missing. Foreman Keagan's body was burned beyond recognition and was only identified by the fire box key in one of his pockets. Mr. Keagan is buried in First Calvary Cemetery, not far from where he met his fate. (from The Last Alarm, by Boucher, Urbanowicz & Melahn)