Update, 2:15 pm: FF’s identified, Lt. Charles McCarthy, 45, of Rescue 1; FF Jonathan Croom, 34, of Ladder 7.
Update, 10:40 am: FF’s remains recovered. Scroll down.
BUFFALO, NEW YORK, FIREFIGHTERS ARE ON THE SCENE of a 3-alarm fire that has just suffered a partial collapse trapping two FF’s that were inside conducting a search.
TV station WGRZ is reporting that Buffalo Fire Commissioner Michael Lombardo confirms two firefighters did not make it out. He says they thought they heard someone pounding for help in the basement. When they went in for the rescue, the main floor collapsed under them.
A reporter on the scene is saying that the officers on the fire ground fear that the FF’s have perished.
Update, 8 am:
The fire is in a 2-story building that has a delicatessen on the ground floor with living units overhead. The firefighters went missing shortly after the units began working the fire a little after 4 am. Some of the local media are reporting that the firefighters have not yet been able to locate the missing two despite breaching the walls in an attempt to get into the basement area where they are believed to be buried under the collapsed floor.
WIVB-TV Channel 4 has two videos reports so far.
This first one has footage of the fire early on at its peak:
This second video has an interview with the Fire Commissioner who tells of the tragedy:
Update, 10:40 am:
The remains of the two firefighters were removed from the fire building at approx. 10:00 am.
WKBW-TV filed this video report on the recovery:
Update, 2:30 pm:
The Buffalo FD has released the names of the two firefighters who perished in this morning’s fire. Lt. Charles McCarthy, 45, of Rescue 1 and FF Jonathan Croom, 34, were identified shortly after noon following their removal from the burned-out market with their remains covered by American flags in a poignant ceremony.
