Wednesday afternoon the New Tripoli Fire Company in Lehigh County responded as mutual aid to a structure fire with reported entrapment in West Penn Township in Schuylkill County.

Sadly, two of their members never came home.

Assistant Chief Zachary Paris and Firefighter Marvin Gruber became trapped on the second floor while searching for the victims.

The two firefighters were freed and transported to the hospital where they died from their injuries.

Fire officials were later informed that the initial reports of civilians being trapped were unfounded and the fire is being investigated as suspicious.

The Chippewa Fire Department would like to express our deepest sympathy to our brothers and sisters of the New Tripoli Fire Company, and the Paris and Gruber families.

Rest easy brothers.