JOHN LEHMANN
New York Post Online

July 13, 2001 -- An amazing $200,000 donation by talk-radio king Rush Limbaugh and his wife, Marta, has sent The Post's Astoria firefighters' fund above the magic $1 million mark.

The Limbaughs made their generous contribution yesterday, much to the gratitude of the families of the three firefighters who died in the Father's Day blaze last month.

Limbaugh, who broadcasts daily to more than 20 million listeners, said he was "overawed" by the selfless service of firefighters.

"They do things most of us will not do and they sometimes die doing it," he said. "They are unique people, greatly undercompensated relative to what they do.

"I am overawed by that, as I am by people who volunteer for the armed services."

Mary Fahey, whose husband, Brian, died while battling the fire at an Astoria hardware store, said the Limbaughs' sentiments were "beautiful."

"It's amazing, the outpouring of love that people have shown," said the mother of three.

Firefighters Harry Ford and John Downing, who had five children between them, also died in the June 17 fire.

The Post and the Uniformed Firefighters Association set up The Astoria Fire: Post Heroes Fund to help the three families of the Bravest. It was initially started with a Post donation of $10,000.

Donations can still be made to the fund, although The Post's fund-raising efforts were scaled back as of yesterday.