Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Funerals Held for Firefighters Killed in New York Fire

Aired June 21, 2001 - 07:05   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: This is a day of mourning for New York firefighters. Funerals are being held for two of the firefighters killed in a Father's Day fire and explosion at a Queens hardware store. Investigators believe the explosion may have been caused by spilled gasoline.

CNN's Jason Carroll joins us now from New York's Long Island -- Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And, Carol, it is indeed a very solemn day out here in Long Island, New York. Preparations are under way for those funeral services for the firefighters who were killed in that Father's Day fires in Queens this past weekend. The first service will take place here at St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Church. That's going to be for Harry Ford. That's going to take place at about 9:30.

Now, I want to start out by showing you a picture of all three of these men so you can get a sense of what they looked like and who they were.

Let's start out with Harry Ford. He was 50 years old. And by all accounts, he took great pride in being a firefighter. He had a 24-year-career. He spent his extra time building movie sets. He is survived by his wife, Denise, his three children, two sons -- one is 10, the other 12 -- and a stepdaughter who's 24.

The next man, Brian Fahey, 46 years old. His unofficial name was "Chubby." Apparently, he liked the nickname as much as he liked his work. He is survived by his wife, Mary, and three children, twin boys 3 1/2 and his son, who is 8. A service for him will take place later this afternoon.

Finally, we have John Downing. He's 40 years old, an 11-year veteran. He was 90 minutes away from taking a five-week vacation to Ireland when he was called to fight that fire.

Now, last night a wake was held for Ford. His children apparently left pictures for him. They also left a note saying, "Thank you for the trip to Florida" -- that in reference to a trip the family had taken to Disney World.

Now some 10,000 firefighters from all over the country are expected to attend these services. Earlier this morning, firefighters from Philadelphia left. They boarded buses so they could be here. We're told that firefighters are coming from as far north as Montreal, from as far west as California.

Just to recap what happened here, these three men died this past Sunday when they were battling a fire at a hardware store in Queens. We're told that that fire apparently was started when two kids were out there. They were horsing around and apparently spilled some gasoline and that ignited the fire that cost the lives of these three men.

Now we're told that the governor is expected to attend. Many dignitaries, also including the mayor, are expected to attend these funeral services, which are going to start taking place -- the first one at 9:30 this morning -- Carol.

LIN: A sad day indeed.

Thank you very much. Jason Carroll, reporting live from Long Island.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com