Heroics in failed San Diego fire rescue

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Four injured Southern California firefighters showed heroism in their failed attempt to rescue a trapped man and his son, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Thomas Varshock, 52, and his son, Richard, 15, were trapped at their home Sunday afternoon as flames circled them near the U.S.-Mexican border.

Cal Fire Chief Ray Chaney was flying a plane and by radio, guided the four unidentified firefighters to possible approach routes as wind gusts of up to 80 mph sent the flames in erratic directions.

However, the firefighters became trapped themselves, and a U.S. Forest Service helicopter dropping water on the fire spotted the firefighters, landed and extracted them and the younger Varshock, the report said.

The teenager and four firefighters are hospitalized with burns covering between 3 percent and 60 percent of their bodies as well as lung damage from inhaling smoke.

The body of Thomas Varshock was found after the evacuation, the newspaper said.