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CNN Live At Daybreak

Three Firefighters Killed in New York City Blaze

Aired June 18, 2001 - 08:15   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: The latest now on that Father's Day fire in New York City. Three firemen died in an explosion and fire at a hardware store in Queens. Fifty people were hurt. One firefighter is in critical condition and remains in critical condition at this hour. So the fire is under control, but firefighters and investigators are still at the scene this morning.

Also there is reporter John Schiumo, of New York One, who has the latest now on that fire -- John.

JOHN SCHIUMO, NEW YORK ONE REPORTER: Colleen, three firefighters leave behind a total of eight children. It is a Father's Day tragedy. But it's really difficult to put into words.

I want to show you right now a live picture. We are here in the Astoria section of Queens. What you're looking at is what remains of a hardware store, a supply company that was a family-owned business on this corner since 1928. You can see, much of the building has been reduced to rubble in the aftermath of an explosion yesterday afternoon -- still a very active scene here this morning, as fire marshals try to determine the exact cause of the five-alarm fire.

What caused the explosion, they already know: Propane tanks in the basement of the store ignited. Now, five firefighters were trapped under the rubble. Two who were outside the building opening windows for ventilation were crushed to death. One plummeted into a hole in the building, where he was trapped and later died.

Two more were pulled from the debris and are hospitalized this morning -- the deceased: a 50-year old named Harry Ford. He's a 27- year veteran of the fire department, married with three children -- also Brian Fahey, a 46-year-old, married with an 8-year old and twin sons, only 3 1/2 -- also firefighter John Downing, a 40-year-old, an 11-year veteran married with two children ages 7 and 3. The fourth firefighter right now is listed in critical condition at a nearby hospital in the Elmhurst section of Queens.

Colleen, New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani described this as one of the worst tragedies in the history of the city.

In Queens this morning, I'm John Schiumo. Let's go back to you, Colleen, back at CNN.

MCEDWARDS: All right, John, thanks very much. SCHIUMO: OK.

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