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2 Buffalo Firefighters Die in Floor Collapse

By CAROLYN THOMPSON
,
AP
posted: 2 HOURS 52 MINUTES AGO
comments: 60
filed under: National News
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BUFFALO, N.Y. (Aug. 24) - Two firefighters — one searching for a person reported to be trapped and the other responding to a mayday call — plunged through the collapsed first floor of a burning building and died early Monday.
Rescue crews tried repeatedly to get to the two fallen firefighters, but were beaten back by fire and further collapses inside the corner brick building, Commissioner Michael Lombardo said.
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Killed in the Line of Duty
Two firefighters were killed early Monday when they fell through the collapsed first floor of a burning building, officials said. "The hearts of the Buffalo Fire Department are broken," said Commissioner Michael Lombardo. "This is a family and we lost two members of our family today." Here, firefighters salute as the bodes of their colleagues are removed from the charred building.
David Duprey, AP
David Duprey, AP
The first firefighter to fall through the floor, Lt. Charles "Chip" McCarthy, was a 22-year veteran of the Buffalo Fire Department who was assigned to a team whose members are trained to find and free trapped victims.
He had depleted one oxygen tank, came out to replace it and then re-entered the building just before the accident happened, said firefighter Vincent Gugliuzza, vice president of Local 282, Buffalo Professional Firefighters Association.
He pressed a distress button on his radio and radioed for help, saying, "Basement, I'm in the basement," said Daniel Cunningham, president of the firefighters union.
Firefighter Jonathan Croom, who was working on his scheduled day off, responded to McCarthy's mayday call and also fell through the collapsed floor, Cunningham said.
Firefighters continued to search the building Monday afternoon but had not yet determined whether anyone else was still inside, officials said.
The fire at the Super Speedy deli in a working-class neighborhood on the city's east side was reported just before 4 a.m. Flag-draped stretchers carrying the bodies were brought out of the two-story building shortly before 10 a.m. as fellow firefighters, some saluting, lined up and took off their helmets. Weeping and distraught people believed to be relatives had been escorted from the scene moments earlier.
Firefighters were still pouring water on the gutted building hours after the blaze began. The fire's cause was under investigation.
McCarthy was a 45-year-old married father of three. Croom, 34, had been in the department for 10 years and leaves behind a fiancee and the couple's 9-month-old child. He was working on overtime on his day off to cover a staffing shortage, Cunningham said.
The two were among the first firefighters on the scene, Lombardo said.
"The hearts of the Buffalo Fire Department are broken," said Lombardo, who knew both of the victims. "This is a family and we lost two members of our family today."
The last Buffalo firefighter killed in the line of duty was 31-year-old Michael Seguin, who died July 4, 1997, when a roof collapsed during a house fire.
The last time more than one Buffalo firefighter died in the line of duty was on Dec. 27, 1983, when five firefighters were killed in a propane tank explosion at a warehouse — the worst loss of life in the department's 129-year history.
"I've been on 36 years and seen every situation happen. We still do what we have to do," said Fire Chief John McFeely. "It's always very, very tragic. The guys are so close together, but we've got a job to do. In another half an hour, if there's another fire down the street, we'll be there."
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Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2009-08-24 14:22:43
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MKN84

08:20 PMAug 25 2009

They shouldn't have died. You have to draw the line. They went over the line. I hope they RIP but how could you when you leave your families behind?

AVG RATING:
(1)

Dacoam24

08:19 PMAug 25 2009

My sister and her family lives in Buffalo and they have many friends that are firefighters. They knew of these men and they are heartbroken.. My thoughts and prayers go out their families. MAY GOD BE WITH YOU ALL .

AVG RATING:
(0)

TexRogers1

08:18 PMAug 25 2009

These guys are the true Americans we should all honor.

AVG RATING:
(2)

N2MWE

08:17 PMAug 25 2009

Rest in peace, you did your job well.

AVG RATING:
(2)

Sh14425

08:16 PMAug 25 2009

What true troopers the firemen are! God bless the families that lost these heroic men.

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(4)

KDCFD4

08:16 PMAug 25 2009

IS WHAT ALL PUPPY???

AVG RATING:
(0)

Twistedxoutlaw

08:16 PMAug 25 2009

What brave men, they enter each blaze disregarding their own safety to save the lives of others... God bless them and their family, as well as all our police and firefighters.

AVG RATING:
(2)

Parrotsrnuts

08:16 PMAug 25 2009

SOTOMAYOR WISHED THEM BAD LUCK...!

AVG RATING:
(1)

KatieCJL

08:15 PMAug 25 2009

Croom's child is actually 2 years old and he is expecting another with his fiancee. Let this be a lesson to all to remember to say "I love you" to your loved ones since you just don't know if that will be the last time you see them.

AVG RATING:
(1)

Bocuttaw

08:14 PMAug 25 2009

True heroes.

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(2)

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Two firefighters -- one searching for a person reported to be trapped and the other responding to a mayday call -- plunged through the collapsed first floor of a burning building and died early Monday.