A screen grab from WHAM-TV’s live coverage of the scene in Webster, New York. Source: Supplied
AT LEAST two firefighters have been shot dead by one or more gunmen in Webster, New York, after responding to an early morning fire.
Three houses on Lake Road continue to burn after the shooting, which left two other firefighters with gunshot wounds, a spokeswoman for Strong Memorial Hospital told the Democrat and Chronicle.
The fire broke out at 5.45am at 191 Lake Road in Webster, New York, near Rochester. Officials say they arrived at the scene of the blaze near the Lake Ontario shore to find a fire had started in one home and spread to two others and a car.
Webster police chief, Gerald Pickering, said shots were fired at West Webster firefighters when they arrived on the scene. Four firefighters were hit – two fatally, the paper reports.
“I’m not aware of anything like this happening in Webster, obviously not a firefighter being fired upon,” Webster fire marshal Rob Boutillier said.
The paper reports one firefighter who was shot managed to get away from the scene to the safety of his car.
Authorities remain on the scene evacuating residents. They are being searched by New York state police and other authorities before being taken to a bus.
Resident Michael Damico, whose son woke him up at 8am to tell him about the fire, was among those evacuated. He told the Democrat and Chronicle that “The whole strip’s been evacuated. They’re evacuating all of the houses and going through them,” he said.
“We looked out the window and we saw the SWAT team and everyone around. Some people on this bus already watched their houses burn. They’re not happy,” Mr Damico said.
The fires have destroyed three homes and firefighters are waiting for the scene to be cleared so they can resume their work. There is no information on whether the homes on fire were occupied, according to the paper.
The debate about gun laws in America continues, in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings on December 14, which killed 26 people including 20 children.
Firefighters shot dead trying to save lives http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2012/12/25/1226543/178575-wham-tv.jpg
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