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American Morning

New York Investigators Sift Through Rubble Following Fiery Hardware Store Explosion

Aired June 18, 2001 - 10:08   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We turn now to the New York Borough of Queens. That's where three firefighters died in the fiery explosion of a hardware store. Our Richard Ross is on the scene and joins us with more.

Richard, hello.

RICHARD ROSS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Daryn.

A somber day here in the Borough of Queens in New York City, what would have been a very festive Sunday, a humid Sunday. The Mets and the Yankees were playing in the Borough of Queens, a few miles from here at Shea Stadium. Suddenly in the humidity of a Sunday afternoon on Father's Day, an explosion and a fire. Three firemen killed, two critically injured, eight children left without a father. Fire marshals now going through the scene, sifting through the rubble, looking for any clues as to what caused the explosion and fire.

New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUDY GIULIANI (R), MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY: This is one of the most tragic days that I can remember in the city. We've lost three very, very brave and dedicated firefighters. We have another firefighter who's fighting for his life and numerous firefighters that were very, very severely injured.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROSS: Fire marshals say it will be a lengthy investigation that has now commenced as to what exactly caused the explosion. Two of the firefighters were killed when a wall of bricks fell on them as there was a big explosion inside this hardware store. One was killed inside. A lot of chemicals, paint, propane tanks inside. Certainly fire marshals are going to hone in on that area as a possible cause. The owner of the hardware store had actually passed away a few weeks ago and his son had taken over the store. He said he's now sorry the store was closed on Father's Day. He thinks it would never have happened if staff had been inside the building -- back to you.

KAGAN: Richard Ross in Queens, thank you.

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