New York tragedy serves warning to Hermosa Beach firefighters
The Christmas Eve tragedy in New York that ended in the death of two firefighters and the suicide of the gunman brought back frightful memories for Hermosa Beach Fire Captain Michael Garofano. A 62-year-old man in New York killed two firefighters by luring them to the site of a burning vehicle early Christmas Eve. The suspect, William Spengler, also lit his Webster home on fire and investigators reported that he laid in wait in a sniper’s position and opened on fire on the first firefighters that arrived at 5:30 a.m. The New York tragedy reminded Garofano of an incident that happened about three or four years ago in Hermosa Beach. According to Garofano, emergency units from all three Beach Cities responded to an early morning house fire in Hermosa Beach. “The fire was blowing out of the windows of the house, so it was obviously well underway, and we tried to make entry,” Garofano said. “It was difficult so we had to force the door open. The smoke had already banked down low, and the first two firefighters went in… and found somebody in the kitchen.” The firefighters began performing a rescue and dragged the victim out of the building. Next to him was a gun, but rescuers were…
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