Ohio LODD

[daysleeper47]

It is with extreme deep regret that we advise you that the PIO of Colerain Township, Ohio (Hamilton County, greater Cincinnati area) has advised that 2 Firefighters have been lost in the Line of Duty this morning. Companies were and still are operating at a working dwelling fire. Initial reports are that there may have been a collapse or related structural failure. We will keep you advised as we are able. You can also monitor local media sites such as:
www.wlwt.com <http://www.wlwt.com>
www.wcpo.com <http://www.wcpo.com>
www.enquirer.com <http://www.enquirer.com>
www.Local12.com <http://www.Local12.com> 
www.Coleraintwp.org <http://www.Coleraintwp.org> 
Please keep all affected in your prayers...the Brothers and Sisters at CTFD are friends of ours.
Take Care-BE CAREFUL,
BillyG

[MATT3045]

They are in my prayers.

[port2]

What a sad day in the fire service for us here in Ohio today. My thoughts to our fellow firefighters in Colerain Twp and all families involved. What a sad day.

[fairborn44]

I hate this for everyone involved and effected by this horrible event.  My thoughts are with all of you. Rest easy brothers and know you will be missed.

[twr627]

Our thought go out to all the brothers in Colerian Twp.  Mike T. and Villa Park Local 2392, Illinois.

[Box 2565]

Bless these two firefighters who gave everything for the sake of others.

Steve

Firefighters' services set

BY PEGGY O'FARRELL | POFARRELL@ENQUIRER.COM


Colerain Township fire officials began working out the details of a funeral procession for two fallen comrades today even as they continued gathering information on how Brian Schira and Robin Broxterman died.

Funeral arrangements include a public visitation from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Gwen Mooney Funeral Home in Spring Grove Cemetery.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, 8th and Plum streets, downtown.

A funeral procession will follow, proceeding from the cathedral and through Colerain Township, then ending at Spring Grove Cemetery, Colerain Fire Capt. Steve Conn said.

A bereavement committee was working this morning on the logistics of the procession, he said.

“We could have up to 7,000, 8,000 firemen coming in from all over the country” for the procession, Conn said. “It’s incredible. It’s a somber feeling, when you think that that many people are coming in to show their support for our co-workers and their families. It makes you feel good about the job that you do.”

Saturday and today, firefighters from Colerain and surrounding departments who responded to Friday’s fatal fire went through the house on Squirrels Nest Lane to get a first-hand look at the scene.

• Video: Firefighters tour the fatal scene
• Photos: Firefighters, community mourn


As horrific as Friday’s fire was, he said, it could have been worse.

“The extent of damage inside that structure was phenomenal. For the people who made it out, the firefighters who were part of the rescue, for them not to have been killed or injured themselves is incredibly sobering,” Conn said.

The Ohio Fire Marshal’s office has completed gathering evidence in the fatal fire, said Conn, but even a preliminary report won’t be available “for at least a couple of days,” he said this morning.

Conn described the department’s mood today as “determined. Our guys are determined. We still have a job to do. We’re still going on the calls. People still need us. We’re determined to make sure we show Brian and Robin the respect they deserve.”

Schira, a 29-year-old firefighter, and Broxterman, a 37-year-old captain, died fighting a house fire on Squirrels Nest Lane Friday morning.

[WEFR 15]

Thousands honor firefighters' sacrifice
BY CLIFF RADEL | CRADEL@ENQUIRER.COM


The white-gloved hand of Green Township firefighter Don Patterson slowly slid across the lid of his fiancée's casket.

It was time to say goodbye, and not just for Patterson.

Farewells were being said through tears by the families, friends, fellow firefighters and - in an unprecedented public outpouring - thousands of mourners lining the route of Wednesday's funeral procession for two Colerain Township Fire Department members, Capt. Robin Broxterman - Patterson's fiancée - and Firefighter Brian Schira.

The veteran captain - a 37-year-old mother of two girls, Sierra, 8, and Courtney, 10 - and the 29-year-old first-year, part-time Colerain firefighter holding down three jobs, died battling a Friday morning house fire in Colerain Township.

After Patterson's gloved hand went to his side in the vestibule of St. Peter in Chains Cathedral in downtown Cincinnati, an honor guard of Colerain Township firefighters unfurled the Stars and Stripes. The flag gently draped the casket.

Two minutes later, a second flag covered Schira's bronze casket.

• Video: Community says goodbye
• Audio slideshow: Heroes' final call


By this time, Wednesday's emotionally draining 95-minute funeral Mass was over. The long ride to Spring Grove Cemetery lay ahead.

It was time to say goodbye.

During the funeral Mass, the fallen firefighters were remembered as heroes and role models.

The Rev. James A. Bramlage celebrated the Mass attended by a capacity crowd of nearly 2,000 mourners filling the cathedral. Police estimated another 10,000 paid tribute outside on surrounding Cincinnati streets.

The pastor tried to assure the families of Broxterman and Schira there was hope in faith.

"They left a house being destroyed by flames to enter a house that is eternal, a house that can never be destroyed," Bramlage said.


Speaking from the pulpit, Colerain Township Fire Chief Bruce Smith made a point of thanking the late firefighters' friends and families.

"We're very proud of Robin and Brian," he said. "You should be particularly proud of being the foundation for what they were."

During the service, Glendale Fire Chief Michael Finney praised Broxterman's impact as a person and as a firefighter.

"Robin brought joy and life to many of us," he said, "and reminded us why we love the fire service."

Schira came across as a lovable, caring character from the eulogy delivered by family friend Paul Markgraf.

The self-taught guitarist who grew up in Cheviot, and lived in Green Township just two streets away from Broxterman, was known to shave his head "twice a day to maintain the shine."

He loved heavy metal music. The last tune he listened to before reporting for work on his final shift: Guns N' Roses' version of Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door."

Schira shared a trait with Broxterman. Both firefighters put others ahead of themselves.

If someone casually mentioned he needed help, Markgraf said, Schira was there.


After the Mass and the flag-draping ceremonies, pallbearers placed the casket bearing Broxterman on Engine 102 from Colerain Township.

She rode with that engine company on that fateful Friday when she was among the first four responders to a basement fire in a secluded section of Squirrels Nest Lane.

The casket of Schira was put on Engine 30 from the Delhi Township Fire Department. Schira also served as a part-time firefighter in Delhi Township.

Dave Graf, a retired Colerain Township firefighter with 27 years of service, stood across the street in front of Plum Street Temple. He held two photos of the fallen firefighters distributed at Tuesday night's visitation.

"I helped train Robin," Graf said, referring to Broxterman. "She was a very special young woman - a great firefighter."

Graf saw the end of the downtown portion of a procession that began its sad journey at 9:35 a.m. at the Colerain Township Administration Building. The Mass ended at 1:35 p.m. Nearly another hour passed before the fire trucks bearing the caskets left for Spring Grove Cemetery. The ceremony at Spring Grove did not end until about 5 p.m., followed by a private interment. All of these solemn moments were preceded by Tuesday's 11-hour visitation at the cemetery's Gwen Mooney Funeral Home, where the last of 7,000 mourners did not leave until 11 p.m.

It was, indeed, a long goodbye.

Earlier Wednesday, along the route's Colerain Township segment, hundreds gathered along parking lots at Northgate Mall. They waited in front of Ray's Barber Salon and among the cars at Knab Auto Body.

Home Depot workers stood outside in their orange aprons. Schira worked his full-time job at the Green Township Home Depot.

Women clenched tissues in their hands and dabbed their eyes. Men pressed ball caps to their chests. Children held balloons and waved tiny American flags.

"No parent should ever, ever lose their child," said Suzi DeCorrevont, a worker at the nearby Honey Baked Ham. She stood in the median on Colerain Avenue.

As the procession drove by, tears streamed down her face.

DeCorrevont lost her 22-year-old son, Josh, to leukemia 13 years ago. She watched the parents of the fallen firefighters on the news and knew the pain they were feeling.

Your child dies, she said, and the hurt never really goes away. You've got to figure out how to mourn, how to take life one day at a time.

Signs along the route showed how deeply the firefighters' deaths touched the community.

Along Colerain Avenue, condolences appeared on marquees belonging to churches, restaurants and car dealerships.

Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve honored the firefighters on its sign. The Golden Corral extended its "deepest sympathy." Skyline Chili said Broxterman and Schira would be "forever in our hearts."

Jason Griffith of Colerain Township brought his two young sons and their cousin to watch the procession. He wanted them to know what had happened.

"We respect the firefighters," Griffith said. His 4-year-old, Conner, had taken cookies to the Colerain fire station.

The little boy understood, Griffin said, that the firefighters had gone to heaven, just like his little puppy.

Outside Spring Grove Cemetery, tearful onlookers watched a seemingly endless procession of fire trucks and ambulances enter the hallowed grounds.

Firefighters from around the state, the nation and as far away as Wales arrived for the service.

Speaking from a lectern in the cemetery's rose garden, state Fire Marshal Michael Bell told mourners the firefighters had made the greatest sacrifice.

"This, right here, in front of us, is love," he said, looking upon a sea of blue- and black-uniformed firefighters. "The greatest honor you can have is to have unselfish love."

The last words of the day belonged to the voice of a radio dispatcher. In the traditional send-off for fallen firefighters, the message crackled over the public-address system:

"Final call for Capt. Robin Broxterman and Brian Schira.

"May you rest in peace."

Staff writers Dan Horn, Howard Wilkinson, William A. Weathers and Lori Kurtzman contributed

[WEFR 15]

Photos from this very sad day.

May Robin and Brian Rest in Peace.


All Photos Bill Strite 4-9-08.



1st group is at church before the procession arrives.

[WEFR 15]

Procession arrives at the Church.

[WEFR 15]

Colerain Engine 102 Arrives with CPT Broxterman

[WEFR 15]

Delhi Engine 30 arrives with Firefighter Schira.

[WEFR 15]

CFD Detail places platforms and steps in place.

[WEFR 15]

Entering the church.

[WEFR 15]

Entering the church.

[WEFR 15]

Future Firefighters?