Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Two senior firefighters from the Fire Bureau Division of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) were killed and two other firefighters were seriously injured when a fire truck crashed at a sharp curb on the road from Afono heading down the mountain-road to Aua yesterday morning.

It was about 6a.m when several police units along with two EMS ambulances rushed to the scene where the accident occurred.

A source told Samoa News that the four firefighters were on their way back to the main fire station in Fagatogo after responding to a fire in Afono when the deadly accident occurred. The crash is allegedly attributed to problems with the fire truck’s brakes.

The source said following the fire in Afono, the firefighters worked on pumping out the remaining water inside the truck tanks, to keep the vehicle light before heading back to the main fire station in Fagatogo

The accident occurred when the fire truck was heading down the road from Afono. The source said this is when the firefighter who was driving, tried to put on the brakes to slow down the truck. It was then the accident happened at a sharp curb heading down the mountain-road.

One firefighter died at the scene while the other at the hospital.

A look at the fire truck and staff of the Department of Public Safety just after the accident and the removal of the firefighters from the deadly crash yesterday morning that claimed the lives of two of the four firefighters in Afono/ Aua, and put the two others in the hospital in serious condition. [photo: Courtesy]

Immediately after the tragic news spread across the island, government leaders, relatives and friends of the two deceased firefighters gathered at the LBJ Medical Center Chapel for a prayer service to mourn the loss of their loved ones.

Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga and Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson were among those who attended the prayer service.

“This is an absolutely devastating time for us,” a family member told Samoa News outside the Chapel.

A special prayer service was held at the same time at the main fire station in Fagatogo, where fellow firefighters gathered together to mourn the lives of their two warriors who lost their lives during the crash.

A senior firefighter called his two fellow firefighters heroes.

A heartfelt memorial — a helmet of one of the firefighters taken from the scene after the crash — yesterday morning. Two firefighters died in the accident, while two others are listed in serious condition at LBJ Medical Center. [photo by AF]

“We have the incredible job of fighting fires around our lovely island and we take pride in this responsibility. Right now, our hearts are with the crew’s family and friends and our family of Fire Fighters suffering in the loss of these two remarkable and well respected crewmembers. Our condolences to family and colleagues for the loss of these heroes,” a senior firefighter told Samoa News.

Samoa News expresses our sincere condolences to the grieving families.