Two firemen killed in Philadelphia blaze

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- A fire in a two-story rowhouse has killed two Philadelphia firefighters, the Philadelphia Daily News reported Saturday.

The victims were identified as Capt. John Taylor and firefighter Rey Rubio. Both men were vocal critics of the mayor's plan to fire department manpower in a budget cutting move. That move has been put on hold by the courts.

"These firefighters were engaged in doing the thing that the fire department does and does well," said Mayor John Street. "They were fighting what we thought was a simple rowhouse fire."