The FBI has described the scene inside Red Lake High School right after the shooting as "horrific".
Red lake firefighters were among the first to see it. They arrived within minutes of Jeff Weise firing the first shots that killed security guard Derrick Brun. They were desperately trying to help victims even before the school was secure.
Now, those firefighters are getting some help, themselves.
Firefighters from around the state are filling in for Red Lake firefighters so they can attend funerals, work with the FBI and take time to emotionally recover from the devastating incident of March 21.
Red Lake fire trucks were seen racing to a grass fire on Wednesday, but the firefighters inside were from Bemidji. Crews from Eden Prairie and Moorhead have also been helping out.
Red Lake Fire Director Roman Stately says the help has been greatly appreciated, ?It was just a devastating sight for all of these firemen to see. Everyone was affected. The security guard was my relative. Others had grandchildren, cousins and other relative involved.?
The outside assistance was organized by Curt Overlander. He called Stately the night of the assault.
Overlander is retired from the Eden Prairie fire and police departments, but he used to train firefighters at Red Lake. He put out the word that Red Lake firefighters needed some help.
Kelly Skime is the Bemidji Fire Chief who says it?s an honor to be asked into another fire house, ?We can assume what they feel, but we?ll never know. We are glad to help out any way we can.?
Later this week, firefighters from Mound and Hopkins will be staffing the Red Lake fire house.
(Copyright 2005 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)
