How Sad And Just Before Christmas: 2 Firefighters Murdered

From the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: A 62-year-old Webster man suspected of setting a trap that killed two firefighters and injured two others was previously in prison for beating his grandmother to death, according to law enforcement sources.
The dead are Lt. Mike Chiapperini, 43, a volunteer firefighter and the Webster Police Department’s public information officer, and Tomasz Kaczowka. Chiapperini led the fire department’s explorer program for high schoolers. Both men died at the scene. Kaczowka, in his early 20s, is also a 911 dispatcher.
William H. Spengler Jr., the man identified as the shooter, was found dead outside the home where the shootings occurred, killed by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Chiapperini and Kaczowka were among the first responders to a fire at 191 Lake Road around 5:45 a.m. Monday. Shortly after they arrived, Spengler opened fire, authorities said.
Two other firefighters, Joseph Hofstetter and Theodore Scardino, are in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital after suffering severe injuries, according to doctors.
An off-duty Greece police officer who was driving near the scene was injured by shrapnel.
“These people get up in the middle of the night to fight fires. They don’t expect to be shot and killed,” Webster Police Chief Gerald Pickering said at a news conference just before noon.
Pickering said it appeared the shooter set a trap for first responders, setting the blaze and opening fire when they arrived to extinguish it. He had several weapons, including a rifle that was used to shoot the firefighters.   http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20121224/NEWS01/312240026/Webster-shooter-jailed-killing-his-grandmother?nclick_check=1
I used to be a volunteer firefighter in North Dakota, Montana and Wisconsin, so I know these guys going to the fire were just concerned about doing their job- rescue people if necessary and putting out the fire.  The thug, who illegally obtained the weapons, shot them like lambs going to slaughter.
RIP firefighters and prayers of comfort to their families and to their fire department.