Although out of our area … there is disturbing news this morning from Webster, NY:


View Larger Map

ABC News reports:

Two firefighters were shot and killed and two others taken to a nearby hospital after a gunman opened fire on them as they responded to a house fire in Webster, N.Y., this morning, according to authorities and local media.

Officials at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y., told ABCNews.com that two men were taken there this morning and were in “guarded condition” after suffering gunshots.

The NY Daily News has photos from the scene:

Fire crews were called to the scene on Lake Road just after 5:30 a.m. The shooting, however, forced officials to halt fighting the blaze, which spread to two other neighboring homes, Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn told reporters.

The sherrif’s office said fire crews were beginning to tackle the fire again before 10 a.m.

It wasn’t known what caused the initial inferno or if anyone was hurt inside the affected homes.

Webster resident Michael Damico told the Democrat and Chronicle that a SWAT team had responded to the area and evacuated parts of the neighborhood where the shooting occurred.

“Some people on this bus already watched their houses burn,” Damico said. “They’re not happy.”

More from MSNBC.com with a video interview and video of the fire:

Houses burn in Webster, NY after four firefighters were shot, two of which died.

Houses burn in Webster, NY after four firefighters were shot, two of which died. MSNBC.com photo

Tags: , ,