Tuesday, January 28, 2014
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Mourners are taking to social media to pay tribute to two Toledo firefighters killed while fighting a weekend apartment blaze.
Thousands of condolence messages from all over the country have been posted on various Facebook tribute pages, and a page has been created for those who would like to take prepared meals this week to colleagues of the fallen firefighters.
The Blade newspaper of Toledo reported that flags around the city have been lowered to half-staff, and the message “Gone But Not Forgotten” is flashing on two dozen digital billboards in the region.
Meanwhile, Masses in celebration of the firefighters’ lives are planned for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. Sunday in the city’s historic Church of St. Patrick.
Firefighters found Stephen Machcinski, 42, and James Dickman, 31, inside the burning building, carried them out on stretchers and tried unsuccessfully to save them. Autopsy reports are pending.
Investigators will take their time trying to figure out what happened and are talking to everyone who was at the scene.