Today, the mayor of West, Texas estimated that from 35 to 40 people have died in the small community of around 2700 people. Of the fourteen deaths so far accounted for, eleven were first responders. At least four were from the local volunteer Fire Dept. Some were killed rushing toward the scene of the original fire in the fertilizer plant – only to be engulfed by a fireball. A Facebook page lists some of the dead:
There’s a picture of 26-year-old Sean Collier, with the comment “You will never be forgotten.”
There’s a picture of Jerry Chapman, smiling with his red goatee, along with this caption: “Jerry Chapman was in class at the time the call went out for the initial fire at West Fertilizer Company. His friends and co-workers say he would not have missed a chance to go help people.”
There’s a picture of volunteer firefighter Joey Pustejovsky, standing next to his wife, wearing a yellow firefighter’s helmet.
One local resident posted: “Joey worked for us at Sears in the sporting goods area, always willing to help and to give the best service. My heart goes out to Kelly and his family at this time, it is just like him to be a first responder. May God give you peace.”
There’s a picture of Navarro County firefighter and West ambulance EMT trainee Perry Calvin, 37, who has been confirmed as one of the EMT personnel killed.
And there’s a picture of Dallas Fire-Rescue Capt. Kenny Harris, one of the dead, dressed in a crisp black uniform. He’s smiling.
I didn’t want the last post of this awful week to be about terrorists – but about the self-sacrifice of these American citizens. Four EMTs are still missing. Pray for them. Pray for West, Texas.
(Photo: Valley Mills Fire Department personnel view the railroad tracks near to the fertilizer plant that exploded yesterday afternoon on April 18, 2013 in West, Texas. By by Erich Schlegel/Getty Images.)
The Dish 