BUFFALO, N.Y.-- It's been a rough couple of days for the firefighters who work with Mark Reed. News 4's Melissa Holmes reports they found themselves in a rather strange situation Monday night.
Buffalo Police combed the scene outside Engine 31 and Ladder 14 on Bailey and Doat Street Monday night after firefighters found a man laying there. He'd been shot in the abdomen.
Without hesitation, those firefighters went out and did their job. But their hearts are heavy as their thoughts remain on their injured comrade.
Ladder 14 Lt. Joseph Victor said, "We just go out and do our job and come back and hopefully everyone returns back, unfortunately this time it didn't turn out that way."
Mark Reed continues to fight for his life at ECMC after he suffered severe injuries from a chimney collapse while battling a vacant house fire Sunday night.
All of his fellow firefighters returned to their regular shift Monday, even though they were offered the night off.
Buffalo firefighter John Keany said, "As soon as you're walking in you think, the same thing that happened to him last night could happen to me today."
While getting back to work was difficult, the firefighters found ways to stay strong.
Buffalo firefighter Joe Rankin said, "We have two families, we have our home and we have our family here and it's what we lean on."
They looked at the photos in Reed's locker, and remembered better times.
Joe Rankin said, "He's like our little brother. We're constantly giving it to him and he gives it right back."
Ladder 14 Captain Peter Kertzie said, "He's dedicated and he loves his job and he loves his family and you put those things together and that's a good person."
What happened to Reed brings home how dangerous their job can be.
Lt. Victor said, "Unfortunately, we all know that it could be any one of us is that position."
But it doesn't stop these firefighters from doing what they love to do.
Capt. Kertzie said, "The bell is gonna ring in a couple of minutes. If it rings, we're gonna go and do the same thing."
Police tell News 4 the victim from Monday night's shooting, Timothy Kuhn, is in fair condition at ECMC.
Republished with permission of WIVB-TV.
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