Five police officers responding to the scene suffered respiratory problems, one firefighter suffered chest pains and another firefighter sprained an ankle, while a neighbor and a pedestrian were also injured, Mr. Meehan said.

WSJ: Toddler Dies in Explosion

Michael Chiapperini, a firefighter who died at the scene, was a veteran of the West Webster Fire Department and a police lieutenant.

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The first paramedic at the scene, Chris Willis, described seeing a firefighter conducting CPR on Yaseen's badly-burned body.

BBC: Yaseen Ali Ege death: Father Yousuf Ege 'unusually calm'

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service said an off-duty firefighter raised the alarm after he discovered the crash scene while travelling with his family.

BBC: Two die after van and lorry crash near Loch Fyne

Firefighter Michael Ellis was one of the first people on the scene.

BBC: Why 7/7 could have been even worse

Firefighters around the country are instructed on how to respond to violent scenarios -- wait for police to secure the scene so that the firefighters can do their jobs saving lives and property -- but that instruction presumes the firefighter has already noticed something amiss, Stittleburg said.

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