Buffalo, NY (WBEN) As many try to wraps their heads around what happened Christmas Eve morning in suburban Rochester, local volunteer firefighters shared their stories with Larry Hunter on WBEN.

Though not a firefighter himself, Tom recalled a fire his father fought at a military surplus store. "They saw a backflash coming and evacuated the building. Because it was an army-navy surplus store, they had a bunch of ammunition in there, and the ammunition started going off, and everyone was ducking and covering," explained Tom. He also recalled another fire, at a paint store, with tragic results. "The backflash blew out the building, and took out two firefighters. At least one of them died, I know that because I knew that guy's father personally."

Ralph has been a volunteer firefighter in West Seneca for 33 years. He says a lot has changed. "There's a lot of different types of chemicals and materials things are made of," he says. He adds firefighters are trained also in water rescue and auto extrication.

He remembers one of his fellow firefighters dying in a creek rescue more than 20 years ago. "I can't imagine what these firefighters are going through," says Ralph. "It's bad enough we take our lives into our hands with what we do now, but now some crazy person does that, it's horrific to me." But he also knows those firefighters in Webster must answer the bell again. "It's going to be in the back of their minds, but they'll be tough, we have to answer the call and serve the people we're here for, and they will," believes Ralph.