SC Fire Hits Home

The news of nine firefighters killed battling a blaze in South Carolina hits close to home for some members of the Evansville Fire Department. Several of them knew victim Mark Kelsey, a native of Washington, Indiana. Evansville firefighters Kurt Behme was teaching a course when he heard the news. BEHME: "One of my firefighters called me and said, hey one of our friends was in that fire" That friend, 40 year old Mark Kelsey was one of nine firefighters that perished in the Charleston blaze. The two had gone to school together, Kurt played in a band with Marks older brother. Kurt knew Mark had joined the Navy after highs chool but years had distanced them. He had no idea they both had chosen similar paths until the fatal fire. The consequences of the job became all too real. BEHME: "You dont think about the fact that for any second the roof is gonna cave in on ya." Kurt knows any fire could turn deadly, and being a dad himself makes it sometimes difficult to think about. BEHME: "If it was one of our own firefighters here, that were gonna do everything we can to take care of them, but when the alarm goes off, and you know theres a fire, you cant think about that. " Like family, they dont always get along. Sometimes they argue over what to fix for dinner or disagree on what to watch on TV, but also like family, their bond is strong, and that says Kurt is one of the best benefits of the job. BEHME "The guys I work with at station 3, theyre my brothers, theyre my family."