Thanks for posting this update Steve. I'm going to add a few news links to this story.

Boston.com: Firefighter Killed in West Roxbury Fire

Video: Firefighters Hurt Battling Four-Alarm Blaze in West Roxbury

Here's a link to a slideshow of Steve's pictures:

Boston LODD Images

Additional updates from Stephen:

The 2 Fire Fighters killed in the tragic West Roxbury fire may have been caught in a flashover. Reports are being confirmed that one Fire Fighter's bunker coat was burned off him. They were operating a line inside the building and were with the 1st due companies. More as I get it.

With sadness I report that the Fire Fighters killed in the line of duty tonight in West Roxbury have been identified as Paul Cahill and Warren J. Payne both from Station 30. Cahill has been a Fire Fighter since 1993 and Payne joined the BFD in 1998.

Boston Herald Story:

Seven Boston firefighters were trapped inside a raging West Roxbury restaurant inferno last night - a fire that killed two of the jakes after an enormous rooftop air conditioning unit caved in, enveloping the men in a disorienting cloud of dust and smoke.

From WBZ:

Boston Fire Chief Kevin MacCurtain said several firefighters from the first crew that arrived on scene entered the building to attack the fire. But the intense smoke and flames caused them to become disoriented and forced them to the ground.

"When they arrived they had heavy fire in the Thai restaurant with heavy smoke conditions on the block," MacCurtain said. "They advanced their lines into the store, and they became trapped and they were disoriented and they couldn't find their way out."

> Click Here for the Rest of the Story

Additional update from Stephen:

It has been reported that 2 more Boston Fire Fighters are on life support and in grave condition. The 2 Fire Fighters killed were from Engine 30 and Ladder 25 who were the 1st due companies. I will update more as I get it.

First Video Reports:

Boston Herald Story:

Hub’s sad turn to bury comrades

Last week, a contingent of Boston jakes stood in solidarity at the funerals of two FDNY bravest, killed battling a seven-alarm fire in a vacant high-rise building across the street from Ground Zero - where 343 firefighters made the ultimate sacrifice on 9-11.

Now, the Boston Fire Department will bury two of its own, a sad duty that comes just days before the state’s first memorial to fallen firefighters will be unveiled in a State House ceremony on the sixth anniversary of the terror attacks.

> Read the Full Boston Herald Story by Michele McPhee

New photos of the fire scene and a memorial at Station 30 where Fire Fighters Cahill and Payne were assigned are posted on my page.

Update from Billy Goldfeder / FirefighterCloseCalls.com:

Hey...
Here is an update on last nights fire that tragically killed 2 Boston Firefighters and injuring others. Initially, there were reports of 2 other Firefighters on life support, but all surviving injured members are now reported to be non life threatening.

The Firefighters who gave their lives in the Line of Duty last night are Paul Cahill (55) and Warren Payne (53), who were assigned at Engine 30 and Ladder 25. Numerous other Firefighters were transported with non-life-threatening injuries.

Boston Fire Chief Kevin MacCurtain said several firefighters from the first due crew that arrived on scene entered the building to attack the fire. Civilians were all out of the building but the heavy smoke and fire conditions in the initial stages of operations caused the members to become disoriented.

"When they arrived they had heavy fire in the Thai restaurant with heavy smoke conditions on the block," MacCurtain said. "They advanced their lines into the store, and they became trapped and they were disoriented and they couldn't find their way out." Chief MacCurtain also said that a 3-ton air conditioning unit partially crashed through the roof of the restaurant but that it was unclear what role this played in the firefighter deaths and injuries. He said the first crews of firefighters quickly became trapped and disoriented. Other crews found the trapped firefighters and pulled them out.

FF Payne was the father of two and FF Cahill was the married father of two. Both had 25 years on the job. Five Boston firefighters have died during or after fires since 1994. They include David Milton, who died earlier this year when he got home from a shift at a firehouse; David Packard, who died of a heart attack after a fire in 1999, Dick Murphy, died of a heart attack after a fire, also in 1999; James Ellis, who died from injuries after he fell down a fire pole when responding to a fire call in 1996 and Steve Minehan, who was killed in a warehouse fire in Charlestown (Boston) in 1994. Steve was killed following a search for other missing Firefighters in that fire.

We are closely monitoring the conditions of the 2 Firefighters who are in critically condition and will update as applicable here and on our home page. Our deepest sympathies go out to all effected but especially the Payne and Cahill families and the members of the BFD E-30/L-25.

Take Care-BE CAREFUL.

BillyG
The Secret List 8-30-07 / 0843 hours
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com

New: Slideshow of Images from the Scene and Aftermath on Boston.com

New from the Boston Herald:

Lost in the line of duty
In an endless line of bravery, Boston firefighters have put their lives on the line to save others from the flames once again.

Photos: Herald Scene & Aftermath Slideshow

Latest News Video:

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the fallen Fire Fighters. My prayers also go out for the other injured Fire Fighters that they may recover.

Boston Fire Fighters Local 718 has set up a fund to assist the families of Fire Fighters Paul Cahill and Warren J. Payne who were killed in the line of duty last night. Donations of any amount can be sent to:

West Roxbury Fire Fund

c/o Boston Fire Fighter's Credit Union

60 Hallet Street

Dorchester, MA 02124

Latest News Video:

THE FIREFIGHTER’S
23RD PSALM


To all of our fallen Brothers & Sisters

FIREFIGHTERS 23rd PSALM

THE LORD IS MY CHIEF
HE HAS CHOSEN ME TO SERVE
HE LEADS ME TO STILL THE FIRES
RAGING AROUND ME
HE RESTORES MY SOUL TO FIGHT
EVEN WHEN ALL SEEMS LOST
HE HAS PREPARED FOR ME A PLACE IN LIFE DEDICATED TO SERVICE, HONOR, JOY
AND FELLOWSHIP
HE ANNOINTS MY SOUL WITH COURAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMY FIRE!
YES EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH LIFE
IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH I WILL FEAR NO FIRE FOR HE IS WITH ME
HIS STRENGTH WILL COMFORT ME
AND WHEN LIFE’S FINAL ALARM SOUNDS
I WILL DWELL IN THE STATION HOUSE OF
THE LORD FOREVER
AMEN!

Updated Stories for Friday

Boston Herald:

BFD searches for 3 workers who fled scene
Boston Fire Department arson investigators are searching for the three Chinese restaurant workers who bolted from the scene of a deadly blaze in West Roxbury that killed two firefighters and have not been seen since, the Herald has learned.

He died doing a favor
It is almost a cliche to say a firefighter laid down his life to help out a brother jake - but that’s exactly what Warren Payne did when he agreed to work an extra four hours of overtime Wednesday night so a probie could report to headquarters for training.

Time won’t mend families’ broken hearts
For a little while, we will stare at the ruins of a West Roxbury restaurant and think about two firefighters who died there on a balmy August night - and of the dozen others who nearly followed them into eternity.

Updated Photo Gallery from the Boston Herald

Firefighter was living his dream
Fallen Boston firefighter Paul Cahill came from a large, classic Boston family full of civil servants - and he perished while living out his dream to help the community.

Keeping vigil, jake’s son tries ‘to be brave’
Jonathan Payne strode yesterday to the memorial set up at the West Roxbury firehouse with an oversized toy fire engine under his arm. A red ladder truck, slightly used and caked with dust in places, it resembled the kind his dad, Warren Payne, rode out of the building the night before on the deadly final call of his 25-year career.

Selfless jake ’never said no’
The 53-year-old firefighter wasn’t scheduled to work Wednesday night. But when a fellow worker at Ladder 25 in West Roxbury had to take an emergency medical service class, Payne, as usual, agreed to fill in.

I took my girlfirend and her daughter by 30 and 25 quaters last night and explained to her daughter what happend. It is a touching memorial with flowers and cards from all over the city. I said a prayer ans shead a tear for our fallen brothers. There are two new angels amoung us.