2 Pennsylvania firefighters die in 'suspicious' house fire as man found fatally shot in woods nearby
BERKELEY SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA: Two firefighters, Zachary Paris, 36, and Marvin Gruber, 59, who responded first at a house fire in Pennsylvania have died. The Berkeley Springs Volunteer Fire Company announced on their Facebook page with heavy heart, “While searching for occupants in a large residential fire, a mayday was called, FFs were trapped on the 2nd floor, they were located and removed but died from their injuries.” It wrote, “One occupant of the home was also located deceased in the woods from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.” The pair rushed to mitigate the damage caused by the fire and stop the blaze from galloping through the house around 4 pm, on Wednesday, December 7.
In the ongoing investigation, it is found that they were given false information that someone is trapped in the house. Both the officers fought their way in to extinguish the fast-spreading flames, but instead got trapped inside the home. WNEP reported that over 100 other firefighters arrived on the scene, as some worked to help rescue the men. However, both Gruber, and Paris succumbed to their injuries later in a hospital. The police are looking at the case with a suspicious angle, as another body was found some 100 yards away, in the woods behind the house. The body was identified to be of Christopher Kammerdiener, 35, who had recently moved in with his uncle. It was found that Kammerdiener died due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
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"Everyone in the house is being investigated," an official told while addressing reporters on the scene. An official statement by the fire company on Paris and Gruber said, "These members made the ultimate sacrifice for their community and country. They are truly heroes," which was read out loud during Thursday, December 8, press conference. The investigators are still trying to establish what started the fire, as they continue to join the pieces.
"It could be Christmas. It could be New Year. It could be a birthday, it could be an anniversary. That pager goes off, we get toned out for a call, and were responding with good heart to protect the town and communities were sever. At a moment's notice, we will do anything for anybody, and I think that just speaks true volumes to what the brotherhood does," said firefighter Polischak.
This is a developing story. MEAWW will keep you updated.