Two Winnipeg firefighters die in blaze

[Darth_Kitten]

http://news.channels.aolsvc.aol.ca/news/article.adp?id=20070205114109990001

this happened in the area of the city I live in. :(

Two Winnipeg firefighters battling a house fire were killed Sunday night when an intense burst of heat and flames proved too much for their protective gear.

The firefighters, both senior captains with more than 30 years experience, were victims of a flashover, "a sudden, violent burst of flames at extreme temperatures that our protective equipment can't protect us from," said Alex Forrest, president of the Winnipeg firefighters' union.

Despite wearing breathing apparatus and clothing able to withstand "hundreds of degrees Celsius," the fireball was overwhelming, Forrest told CBC News.

At least four other members of the same crew were injured, one seriously, Forrest said.

Authorities said one firefighter was in hospital in critical condition and two others were stable

[Maddy McCall]

1. Awww....DAMN.

That's terrible.

30 year captains. Terrible.

:cry:

[Darth_Kitten]

3. I'm thinking, these guys should be retired......

after 30 years of service with the City. :(

It's such a loss.....there's a fire station about a block northeast where I live.....it was featured in a clip on the news so I wonder if one of the captains was stationed there. :(

they give so much. :(

[Maddy McCall]

5. I have a couple of retirement-age friends who are full-time FFs...

in the neighboring city. They've stay on because they love the job so much.

You are right. Those deaths are a terrible loss for your community. :(

[Beausoir]

2. That is tragic. These people are incredibly brave.

Fire terrifies me. I can't imagine fighting it for a living.

[Darth_Kitten]

4. It is pretty scary........

just the thought of being in some kind of inferno. :(

I wonder what started it. What an incredible loss. :(

[Lautremont]

6. I couldn't believe that when I heard it.

It must've been terrifying. Dying of a heat blast on the coldest night of the year, too. Those poor guys.

(I'm a 'pegger too, so it really kind of shocked me.)