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Pair of Buffalo, New York Firefighters Killed in Collapse at 3-Alarm Fire
Listen to the Fireground Audio
• Buffalo 3 Alarm LODD Fire Dispatch/Ops
• Buffalo 3 Alarm LODD Fire Dispatch/Ops
Funeral Arrangements
Mass
Lt. Charles McCarthy
St. Joseph Cathedral - Franklin St.
Friday - August 28 - 9:30 a.m.
Viewing: Thursday, August 27th, 2:00pm – 8:00pm
James Cannan Funeral Home
3155 Orchard Park Road
Orchard Park, NY 14127
Service
Firefighter Jonathan Croom
St. Joseph Cathedral - Franklin St.
Friday - August 28 - 1:00 p.m.
Viewing: Thursday, August 27th, 2:00pm -8:00 pm
Amigone Funeral Home
1132 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14209
Lt. Charles "Chip" McCarthy & Firefighter Jonathan Croom
Firefighters Remove Fallen Bravest
Raw Video from the Scene
Buffalo firefighters salute as they remove bodies of fellow firefighters from a building after a fire in Buffalo, N.Y., Monday, Aug. 24, 2009. The first floor of a burning convenience store collapsed into the basement early Monday morning, killing two firefighters. (AP Photo/ David Duprey)
Fire Commissioner Mike Lombardo: Firefighters Missing
Associated Press Writer
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.
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 fiance 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."
Related
- Fireground Audio: Buffalo 3 Alarm LODD Fire
- Buffalo News: 2 firefighters feared dead after fire in an East Side deli
- WIVB: Two firefighters die battling fire
- Buffalo Fire Department Web Site - BFD on Facebook
- FireGeezer.com: Double LODD in Buffalo
- STATter911: Recovery operations at commercial building fire
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by LadyChaplain on
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My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Buffalo FD family.
LadyChaplain
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Permalink Reply by Wes on
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God bless all the families and friends of those whose lives were lost....Thoughts and prayers for you and brother FF's.
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Permalink Reply by SHAMS on
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I'm so sad to hear that , my deep thoughts and warm condolences to their families and their colleagues
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Permalink Reply by David Peterson on
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My God I hope they fine them and it shows what we deal with as a fire fighter everyday
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Permalink Reply by Christopher J. Naum, SFPE on
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Check out Operational Safety Considerations at Ordinary and Heavy Timber Constructed Occupancies at the Building Construction and Firefighter Safety Group: http://www.firefighternation.com/group/buildingconstructionfirefigh...
and also the Safety Awarness PowerPoint Program Operational Safety Considerations at Ordinary and Heavy Timber Constructed Occupancies on that's available at the Near Miss Reporting System web site: http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/data/Resources/Other/MayModulePo...
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Permalink Reply by neil e. huss on
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our thoughts and prayers from darlington vol. fire department
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The angels above had called upon them, may they rest in peace with their brother's above, my thoughts and prayers are with the families !
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Permalink Reply by Dave Bish on
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My thoughts and prayers out to the families and fellow Firefighters.
I stopped by E31, L14 a couple weeks ago. They are only a couple blocks from this fire. And reported smoke from quarters when responding to this fire.
BFD fights ALOT of Fire. Those guys do a tremendous job for the amount of Fire they work and the manpower they have.
These guys are always in my thoughts and prayers since I know how busy they are and the dangers they face.
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Permalink Reply by Enache Mihaita on
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God bless their families
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May god bless the families of those who gave all.
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We always face the fact of giving the ultimate sacrifice in serving our communities in times of need.
As our lord and savior Jesus said in John 5:13 "NO ONE HAS GREATER LOVE AS THIS,THAT SOMEONE
WOULD LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS" My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go to the members of
the Buffalo Fire Department, families, friends and others during this difficult time.
May God Strengthen You- Dave Jacobs
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Permalink Reply by Hannah on
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As a Volunteer Firefighter who know a few of the Buffalo fighterfighters and has seen these men and women work, this is a huge tragedy and my heartbreaks for the BFD and the family and friends of those who have lost there loved ones. May they RIP and fly with the angels as the heros they are. They gave thier life to try and save someone else and for that they will never be forgotten. Thank you to all of the brother and sister firefighters for your thoughts, prayers ,and kind words it means alot to the family and thoughs who are grieving right now to know that there are alot of people who care so much in this difficult time .... so thank you for your words of kindness and your prayers!!!
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