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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 Jay Lowry on
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Chris, Are you serious? This thread is about funerals. People are leaving their condolences for these men, these heroes and you are posting this now? Do you think the families want to come on here and see this thrown up in the midst of a thread about funerals? We came to this thread to remember two men who died in the line of duty and not to push content on people this way. It would be far better if you just took the time to thank these men for their service and to offer thoughts and prayers to the families.
May god bless the families of these brave men and the firefighters who proteect the City of Buffalo. God protect them from experts.
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Permalink Reply by Heidi M. Joiner on
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Thoughts and prayers to his immediate and fire families. Go with God, rest in honor and peace.
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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The dead they sleep a long, long sleep;
The dead they rest, and their rest is deep;
The dead have peace, but the living weep.
~Samuel Hoffenstein
Clover Twp FPD wishes to extend their condolences to the families, friends, community and fire department of Lt. Char'es "Chip" McCarthy and Firefighter Jonathan Croom.
Art Goodrich
President, CTFPD Board
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To the family and work family of the two fallen firefighters, I am so sorry for your loss. Your loved ones will never be forgotten. Heroes never are. God bless you all!
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Permalink Reply by Dan Curtis on
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On behalf of the Bowmansville Fire Co (Lancaster NY) we send our deepest condolences to the families of our fallen Brothers. It is heart warming to see the outpouring of love from the Fraternity that we know as the Brotherhood of Firefighters.No greater a sacrafice then a man lay down his life for another. God Bless all of us and keep us safe.
EMS Lt/Chaplain Daniel Curtis Bowmansville Fire Association
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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RIP, brothers
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Permalink Reply by sarah arledge on
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i am so sorry about the firemen that died i will pray for their family god bless them
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Permalink Reply by patty prime on
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My thoughts and deepest prayers are with all the families of the 2 fallen firefighters..May God be with you...They were called, why we don't know, family can't understand...
To our Brother and Sister firefighters in Buffalo..May the guardian angels be with you all..Keeping you safe..When something like this happens, it weighs heavy on all our hearts..May each day become easier for you.
Be safe..
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Permalink Reply by eric mazurczyk on
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RIP MY BROTHERS
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Permalink Reply by Brett Smith on
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Rest in peace Brothers we will never forget you!!!!
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Permalink Reply by Harry Rogers on
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Rest in peace brothers! You and your families will be in my prayers!
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Permalink Reply by Steven on
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They died doing what they were supposed to be doing, doing the job we all do to the best of their ability. That's heroism and it should stand as a lasting tribute to who and what they were.
And you're right, they didn't die in training or in a collision or doing something against SOG/SOP. They died because sometimes shit happens and it's the risk we all take when we don our turnouts and head out the door.
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