LISTOWEL, Ont. - Dozens of firefighters stood at attention Friday as the bodies of two volunteer firemen were removed from a burned dollar store some 24 hours after reportedly entering the building to rescue any shoppers who may have been trapped.
Police officers and about 100 members of the public also gathered outside the building where Kenneth Rea, 56, of Atwood, Ont., and Raymond Walter, 30, of Listowel, died during a blaze Thursday.
"As firefighters we know the risk of what we do, but times like this, you just don't prepare for," North Perth Fire Chief Ed Smith said during a news conference Friday.
Flags flew at half-mast throughout the grieving town, which is about an hour northwest of the southwestern Ontario city of Kitchener.
"It's a small town and everybody around here knows everybody," said provincial police Const. Kees Wijnand, who was there as the bodies were removed. "It's a pretty sombre situation in town."
Rea's widow said her husband was a family man who died doing what he loved.
"He was very family oriented; he loved his kids; he loved family," Louise Rea told local radio station AM980 on Friday. "He loved the fire department — that was his life."
The tragedy put the spotlight on the sacrifice made by firefighters, particularly the 84,000 men and women in Canada who volunteer for the job.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper called the two men "heroes who volunteered to do life-threatening work to keep their communities safe."
"Tragedies like this are unfortunate reminders of the sacrifices that professional and volunteer firefighters make every day for the people of Canada," Harper said in a statement. "Through their caring and civic commitment Raymond and Kenneth made their communities and Canada a better place. They will be honoured and remembered."
Premier Dalton McGuinty spoke about the selfless dedication of those who put their lives at risk to voluntarily fight fires.
"Our volunteer firefighters take time away from their families to keep us safe," McGuinty said. "We rely on their selflessness, and (the) tragedy is a solemn reminder that we must never take their sacrifices for granted."
North Perth Mayor Julie Behrns, Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak, Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff all echoed those sentiments Friday.
"We think of them all this morning and thank them for their public service and their courage and their devotion to our community," Ignatieff said at an event in Brampton, Ont.
About two-thirds of Ontario's 30,000 firefighters are volunteers, according to Tim Beckett, president of the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs.
Rea and Walter were among the 65 volunteers with the North Perth Fire Service, which protects an area of 487 square kilometres with a population of 11,622.
Beckett said the decision whether to have full-time or volunteer firefighters is up to each municipality. The number of fires the area sees and cost are factors in that decision.
Rea, a father of six and grandfather of three, had rose through the ranks to become deputy district chief for the Atwood station. His wife said he had never experienced a close call.
Walter was married with no children and worked as an accountant in Listowel.
"It's just a tough day," said Bill Watson, who had worked with Walter to organize a festival in the town. "Ray was a committed individual to the community from being a volunteer firefighter to his work in minor ball, in Listowel Kinsman."
The dollar store was open for business when the fire started about 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Smith said Ontario Fire Marshal investigators are looking into reports that roof work was being done when the blaze broke out.
"That is part of the ongoing investigation," said Smith. "I'm not voicing an opinion on that right now. The OFM will be dealing with that investigation."
Louise Rea said the men couldn't be rescued before the roof collapsed.
"They just told me that it happened real quick," she said of learning her husband was dead.
A critical incident stress debriefing team was set up Thursday night to help the families and colleagues of the firefighters, said Beckett.
(AM980, The Canadian Press)