Three firefighters killed, two injured battling Calif. wildfire

(Cabazon, CA-AP) October 26, 2006 - A fire that's forced hundreds of people from their homes in southern California has now turned deadly.

The US Forest Service says three firefighters were killed and two were critically injured Thursday while fighting the fire in the community of Cabazon, near Palm Springs - about 90 miles east of Los Angeles.

A spokesman says the firefighters were trying to protect a home when they became trapped in their fire engines. The high winds had suddenly pushed the flames over them.

In response to the tragedy, the spokesman says all US Forest Service personnel have been pulled off the fire to let them "gather their thoughts" and "say their prayers."

The fire has quickly burned more than four-thousand acres, and it's destroyed at least three homes since it began overnight. At least one civilian has been injured.
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This is a type of fire that I could have easily been on. I can't believe it. What the hell happened out there? We know our 10 fire orders and 18 watch out situations. Were they placed wrong in relation to the fire?

My God. I am totally blown away. This just isn't supposed to happen. It's aviodable. Where was their escape route? Where was their safety zone? Why didn't they deploy fire shelters? Damn damn damn!

Three guys in an engine. A Captain, an Engineer, and a Firefighter. An engine company gone. This could have easily been me or people from my department.

Damn I wish I was there. Stupid. I should be out on that fire not sitting home scratching my nuts. These poor fire families. I'm almost in tears. Son of a bitch...