LISTOWEL, Ont. — Two volunteer firefighters were killed Thursday while trying to put out a fire that started on the rooftop of a downtown store in a western Ontario town.


The blaze broke out at around 3:30 p.m., at the Dollar Stop on the Listowel's Main Street West. Reports indicate roofers had been working on the building.


Perth County Ontario Provincial Police said that two firefighters died on the scene of injuries sustained when the building's roof collapsed.


The cause of the fire remains under investigation.


The firefighters were identified late Thursday night as Raymond Walter, 30, and Kenneth Rea, 56, who was the deputy district chief for nearby Atwood.


Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty offered his condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of "these two brave men.


"Our volunteer firefighters take time away from their families to keep us safe," said McGuinty in a statement. "We rely on their selflessness, and today's tragedy is a solemn reminder that we must never take their sacrifices for granted."


Listowel is about 330 kilometres northwest of Toronto.


With files from Global News



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