SUNSET COLONY, S.D. — Two volunteer firefighters were killed and another was injured in an explosion in South Dakota on Thursday.
The fallen firefighters — who were cousins — had gone on top of a structure to attack a coal bin fire below when an explosion destroyed the top and south wall of the building in the small community of Sunset Colony, according to KSFY.
Firefighter Jacob Waldner, 20, and Firefighter William Waldner, 22, died from the blast.
The injured firefighter was the father of one of the firefighters who died, according to reports.
Several firefighters had responded to the fire and thought it was extinguished when the explosion happened.
“I witnessed it with my own eyes, it happened just like it does in the movies,” Sunset Fire Chief Danny Stahl told the news station. “I mean the bin virtually came apart on top and the two victims just flew.”
Chief Stahl says the two firefighters who died were close to his heart.
“These boys, I recruited them,” he said. “I was involved in all their training and they were like sons to me.”