HISTORY

On October 28th, 1954 at 6:00AM Firefighters from Engine 2, ladder 3 and Battalion Chief 6 responded to the Charles W. Berg Laboratories at 1827 North 5th Street. The initial reports regarded ammonia fumes in the vicinity of the chemical and oil manufacturer. In a matter of minutes a 4000 gallon aluminum alloy tank in the open yard at the rear of the chemical building exploded, knocking ten firefighters against the surrounding brick walls. After the explosion many of the surviving firefighters suffered immediate harm from Phosgene gas poisoning. The causalities from he explosion were taken to Stetson Hospital. The result of the incident was the death of 10 brave firefighters, 23 injured firefighters, and two injured policemen.

This tragedy resulted in the establishment of the Hero Scholar Fund of Philadelphia. A college fund for the children of Police and Firefighters killed or total disabled in the line of duty.

On August 16th, 1955, the Hero Scholarship Fund of Philadelphia was established as a Non-Profit Corporation. After the Berg Fire the organization was founded by a City Councilman and four prominent businessmen; John B. Kelly, Samuel H. Darroff, Paul McNamara, Robert W. Prior, and Fred W. Johnson. The men established a Board of Directors to run the Fund. This Board consisted of 11 members; the President of City Council, Chairman of the Committee on Public Safety of the Council, the Managing Director, The Police Commissioner, The Fire Commissioner, and the Superintendent of the Park Police.

The Hero Scholarship Fund of Philadelphia is working to continue to achieve its overall goal to "establish and maintain scholarships for the children of Firemen, Policemen, and Park Police of the City of Philadelphia killed or disabled in the line of duty, and to accept contributions and raise funds for such purposes from the general public". We believe every child deserves the chance to continue their education and we will work to ensure that every family gets the support they need.