Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Wednesday was, yet, another sad and difficult day for the City of Buffalo.
The Wednesday fire at 745 Main Street in Downtown Buffalo took the life of a local Engine 2 Buffalo firefighter.
"It's a family. Anytime you lose one of your own, it's devastating, very personal and not something that you ever get over," said Garnell Whitfield, former Buffalo Fire Commissioner who arrived on the scene to show support.
Bishop Michael Fisher of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo was on the scene as well, talking with the EMTs, police, fire and the families. The Catholic Center is right on the adjacent block of where the blaze occurred.
"It was quite a chaotic scene out there," said Bishop Fisher. "Joe and I went out there to see what we could do. As chaplains, we're torn between wanting to bring solace and care to the their spirits. That's what we do in terms of healing. But you also don't want to get in the way, it was a still very active scene."
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The Bishop noted he comes from a family of law enforcement and firefighters, and while it's easy for the most reverend to give his thoughts and prayers, it's a challenge to put together the right words to say in a situation like this.
"In times like this, there's not a lot to say. It's more about just being present and there for each other," the bishop said. "You offer your condolences, you all for your prayers, but I think beyond that, words can't describe when you lose a fellow firefighter. police officer, it's just something that can't be expressed. So just being there for them, giving them a hug and letting them cry on your shoulder if that's what they need to do. I think they just want to know they're not alone."
Bishop Fisher described the scene when they pulled the fallen firefighter out from the rubble, saying it was quite somber.
"When they brought the young firefighter out of the building, they formed a line on both sides and saluted him as they they put him into the ambulance and it was quiet."
There was no doubt that once police officers and firefighters stood in group and lines standing and saluting in solidarity, the mood changed from moderate everyday noise, to a very eerie and somber quiet.
The professionalism, class, hard work and dedication of the police, firefighters and EMTs did not go unnoticed by Bishop Fisher.
"They're still there, they're still on the job protecting us. We need to have, I think, a lot more gratitude for what they do for us every day. Unfortunately, it's times like this when we lose someone in tragedy of this, we remember how important these these firefighters are to us."
"Everything that happens in the world, firefighters are at the front end of that response," says Whitfield. "So this is something that we all know, of course, you never anticipate happening to you or within your department. But there will be an outpouring from across the world for this young man for his family and deservedly so."
Flags are at half staff currently all across the City of Buffalo, and likely soon statewide in honor of the fallen Buffalo firefighter.