Two firefighters were shot while responding to a house fire in Webster, N.Y. on Monday morning.
An unknown assailant attacked the firefighters after they arrived at a burning building around 6 a.m.
One of the firefighters was able to drive his own vehicle to the hospital, while the other was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital.
One firefighter is in satisfactory condition, but the condition of the other is unknown.
In the meantime, firefighters are unable to put out the blaze, which has now spread to three homes and a vehicle.
At least some of the homes are occupied, but a SWAT team helped evacuate residents from the area while police searched for the shooter.
Webster Fire Marshal Rob Boutillier is advising residents to remain in their homes if they feel safe, but to stay away from windows and doors.
Webster is a small town just east of Rochester, N.Y. on Lake Ontario. The fire and the shootings took place on Lake Road, which overlooks the water.
Tensions are high in any incident involving gunfire, particularly when the identity and location of the shooter is unknown. After the random killings of 20 elementary school students and six of their teachers by a lone gunman armed with semiautomatic weapons a week and a half ago in Newtown, Conn., police around the country are taking no chances.
President Obama has asked Congress to reauthorize the assault weapons ban, which prevented sales of high-powered and high-capacity weapons. It was first instituted during the Clinton administration, and expired without renewal under George W. Bush.
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