Two firefighters shot and killed while responding to Webster, N.Y. fire

Two firefighters were shot and killed and two others injured while responding to an early moing fire in Webster, N.Y.

Webster Police Chief Gerald Pickering said shots were fired at West Webster firefighters when they arrived to battle the blaze along Lake Road in Webster, which is about 10 miles west of Rochester.

According to the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, there are no active shooters at the scene and firefighters have resumed battling the blazes, according to Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn.

Police lieutenant Mike Chiapperini (left) and Tomasz Kaczowka, (right) a 911 dispatcher, who had both volunteered with the West Webster fire department tragically died in the shooting

Joseph Hofsetter was injured in the shooting and was rescued by a police SWAT team in the town of West Webster

Gunman: The gunman, identified by police as William Spengler opened fire as soon as the firefighters arrived, killing two firefighter volunteers

The two injured firefighters are in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital with gunshot wounds, a hospital spokeswoman told the Democrat & Chronicle. The newspaper reported firefighters made their way across a bridge to get to safety.

The moing scene was described as chaotic as police and firefighters dealt with an immense blaze as well as gunshots,  local news station WHAM-TV  reports. The station also reports the firefighters who are involved are volunteer firefighters.

A bystander watches while the home in West Webster bus

The firefighters had to leave the scene of the shooting leaving the fire to bu out of control

The firefighters of West Webster were attacked as they responded to the blaze which broke out on the shores of Lake Ontario

It is reported that three homes are ablaze in West Webster, New York which was the scene of a fatal shooting in the sleepy town

“I’m not aware of anything like this happening in Webster, obviously not a firefighter being fired upon,” Webster Fire Marshal Rob Boutillier told the Democrat & Chronicle.

There at least three houses that have been damaged by the fire along Lake Road, WHAM-TV reported. Firefighters had to leave the scene and stop battling the blazes while police secured the scene. They are back to fighting the fires, the station reports.

More details are expected to come from officials in an upcoming media briefing.