Erie Firefighters Reflect on Five-Year Anniversary of Fatal Daycare Fire – Erie News Now [Video]

Current Erie Fire Department Chief Leonard Trott and former Chief Guy Santone have decades of experience as firefighters, but nothing even comes close to the magnitude of this particular night.

“Probably one of the worst nights of my life,” Trott said. “Definitely the worst night I’ve ever had on Erie Fire Department in 28 years.”

“That was the worst fire tragedy that I’ve ever experienced,” Santone said.

It was five years ago on August 11, 2019, an early Sunday morning where crews were called to 1248 West 11th Street just after 1 a.m.

The home was operating as a 24-hour daycare, where witnesses said they heard cries for help, as young children were trapped inside the burning home.

Five children lost their lives that night.

“You give it your everything, and we still lost five kids,” Trott said.

Trott was a lieutenant on Engine 11 in 2019, and it was a night that still continues to live …