Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

New York Fire Kills Three Firefighters

Aired June 18, 2001 - 09:45   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: A fire in Queens proved lethal for the fire department there.

Richard Roth is standing by.

We interrupted Richard's report earlier to bring you that tape from Washington -- Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, there are still a few New York City fire units here, in the Astoria section of the borough of Queens in New York City. Three firefighters lost their lives Sunday and a forth remains critically injured following an explosion and fire here in a hardware store, on Father's Day.

Three firefighters were killed, and thus eight children are left without fathers. They're all family men and veterans of New York City Fire Department, with a combined over 50 years of service.

This morning, there were still some smoldering ruins, which firefighters poured some water on. New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani called this one of the most tragic days in New York City in quite some time. It was in 1998 the last time that three firefighters lost their lives.

Investigators are now, of course, going to determine what might have caused the fire and explosion and the tactics, perhaps, used in fighting this fire, Leon. But they're holding a press conference elsewhere in Queens, at one of the firehouses where two of the men work. They're laying some bunting in honor of the men. Of course, the job does go on.

As for this community here, several people are coming by and taking a look, but it's a Monday morning, a workday. There's a school that was kept open nearby; children are peering out the window to examine the wreckage and what happened. For New York City, it's a very sad day here.

It was Father's Day on a humid Sunday afternoon. One of the firefighters was killed inside. Two were trapped under a wall of rubble -- Leon.

HARRIS: Richard Roth, thank you very much. We appreciate that report from Queens, New York.

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