Bless them, their families and friends.
Firefighters' services setBY PEGGY O'FARRELL | POFARRELL@ENQUIRER.COMColerain 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.