On Sunday, February 16th 1941, Daniel W. McCarthy died while fighting a fire at the old Fordham Estate on Harriman Road. While venting a window, Daniel was overcome by smoke when a backdraft occured.

A plaque is permanently mounted at fire headquarters in his honor. Included on this memorial is the actual letter Daniel wrote on February 22, 1926 to the board of trustees requesting that he have permission to join the Irvington Fire Company. He was 21.

Daniel is honored every year at Immaculate Conception Church in Irvington, during the annual Daniel McCarthy Memorial Mass. This mass is held in Febuary and is in memory of him and all departed members of The Irvington Fire Department.