Two firefighters — one searching for a person reported to be trapped and the other responding to a mayday call — plunged through the collapsed first floor of a burning convenience store and died early Monday.

Rescue crews tried repeatedly to get to the two fallen firefighters, but were beaten back by fire and further collapses inside the corner brick building, Commissioner Michael Lombardo said.

The three-alarm blaze started early Monday morning on the city’s east side, and is still under investigation.

Firefighter-EMT.com salutes Lt. Charles McCarthy Jr. and firefighter Jonathan Croom on this tragic day.

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Tags: buffalo, death, fire, line of duty, new york