Two firefighters killed, more than two dozen injured... (Pittsburgh)

[qanda]

Two firefighters killed, more than two dozen injured in Hill District church fire

Two Pittsburgh firefighters died this afternoon when the facade of Ebenezer Baptist Church, weakened by a stubborn four-alarm blaze, collapsed around them.

About two dozen other firefighters were injured, several critically.

One of the dead firefighters was identified as Battalion Chief Charles Brace, who was in his 50s, of Brookline. The other, 52-year-old Richard Stefanakis, lived in Lawrenceville.

"They were great firefighters, great men and close friends," Fire Chief Peter Micheli said.

Ebenezer Baptist Church, a stalwart center of the Hill District for 131 years, was destroyed by the blaze. Parishioners believe the fire began in the basement and spread throughout the building.

(more)

http://www.post-gazette.com/breaking/churchfireweb2.asp

This story hits home as I am from Pittsburgh and know many of the people who attend this church. My heart goes out to the families of the firefighters who lost their lives. What a sad, sad story.

[theHandpuppet]

1. Terrible news...

My heart goes out to the families and friends of these brave firefighters.

[Bombero1956]

2. how sad

My prayers go out to the families and co workers of my brother firefighters. I hope the chimp doesn't try to make their funeral into a photo op.

[RamboLiberal]

3. Sadly two communities lost today in Pittsburgh

First any building can be replaced, not so lives. I'm from the Pittsburgh area. My sympathies to the families of the two firefighters and my prayers that those injured recover.

And it's such a shame that the fire had already been controlled but the collapse of the church steeple tower is what cost these brave men their lives.

And the African-American community and the Pittsburgh community itself lost a great landmark and historic center in the Ebenezer Baptist Church. It was the center of the Civil Rights movement in Pittsburgh. Martin Luther King spoke there as had many presidents. Ironically they pictured 41 Bush speaking there in the coverage of this tragedy on one local news station tonight.