By Pamela Sroka-Holzmann
The Express-Times
PHILADELPHIA — Gov. Tom Wolf ordered all state flags to half-staff Monday in honor of a Philadelphia firefighter killed in a weekend building collapse.
Philadelphia Fire Dept. Lieutenant Sean Williamson, 51, died and five other first responders were injured in Saturday’s collapse in the city’s Fairhill section. Phillyvoice.com reports the fire began in a commercial building on 3rd Street and West Indiana Avenue, and first responders arrived on scene around 2 a.m. Crews reportedly were able to put out the fire within 15 minutes. By 3:30 a.m., a large chunk of the building collapsed, killing Williamson and injuring the others, according to the report.
Lt. Williamson was a 27-year veteran of the fire department, most recently assigned to Ladder 18 located in the city’s Hunting Park section. He leaves behind his mother and son, according to the city’s website.
Wolf ordered the state flags be lowered immediately, and remain at half-staff until sunset Friday, and again on the day of Williamson’s funeral. The flags are to be lowered on all state facilities, public buildings and grounds in Philadelphia County, as well as outside the city.
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