A Fox News report Friday evening that firefighters were being held hostage in the New Orleans area by refugees of Hurricane Katrina was confirmed as only rumor by early Saturday by local media.
2theadvocate.com reported erarly Saturday that reports about firefighters being held hostage in St. Bernard Parish were just rumors, Col. Henry Whitehorn of the Louisiana State Police told the news organization.
FOX News reported that 50 to 100 firefighters and their families were being held hostage by sniper fire in the Bell South building. Fox reported that a police SWAT team was enroute, but did not provide further updates through late Friday night.
Whitehorn told 2Advocate.com that the police spoke with Fire Chief Thomas Stone of Chalmette who said two firefighters were airlifted to a hospital after becoming sick. Dozens of firefighters from the area -- and Canada -- along with nearly 60 police officers were staying in the area.
Visitors on the Firehouse.com Forums wrote that they hoped the report was incorrect and that they are praying for the firefighters and their families.
Link To Forum: Firefighters Reported Being Held Hostage Near New Orleans
