So many bad decisions were made, easy to see in hindsight of course that had some of the basic fire safety procedures been followed, those people might be alive today.
That's of little comfort of course to the mother and father of the children. The mom, frantically climbing the scaffolding of the old home, trying to save her parents and her children. And the dad, watching it all unfold from Lower Manhattan, unable to do much except fume in sorrow.
It is difficult to imagine the pain these people are in. Difficult as well to imagine how they'll get over it. My wife, tearing up over this story (like so many other people), and in her usual glass-half-full view of life, suggested that one way they might eventually overcome this unthinkable grief is to become real-life examples for fire safety.
We are all thinking about home fire safety today. From making sure people clean out their chimneys, to having working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, to having an emergency plan to get out of your home in case of a fire.
Next month we offer our Operation 7 Save-A-Life campaign, our annual effort to promote fire safety and our drive to pass out tens of thousands of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to people who otherwise couldn't afford them.
The tragic fire in Stamford will be a sorrowful backdrop to our special. But it makes it all the more timely. We'll have the latest from the scene of the fire, and reaction, tonight at 11.
Also at 11, there's been much made today about the lack of a parade for returning U.S. troops from Iraq. Republican Presidential candidate Rick Perry blasted Pres. Obama for it, saying the President is playing party politics over honoring the troops and a couple of New York City Council members say the Mayor should host one.
Is it me or does the concept of a parade seem a bit besides-the-point when the returning troops face a rough economy and difficulties finding jobs, and they'll find government services for vets that have been roundly criticized for being inadequate?
Better to help these vets find jobs than to host a feel-good parade? And how much would a parade cost a government that's long been whining about not having enough money? I'm just sayin'. This was actually our Question of the Day today and we would love to hear your thoughts on this by CLICKING HERE.
We're also taking a tough-love look at all those diet plans out there. Tonight at 11, Consumer Reports polls more than 3,000 people to find out what works and what doesn't.
We'll also have any breaking news of the night, plus Meteorologist Lee Goldberg's AccuWeather forecast, and Laura Behnke (in for Rob Powers) with the night's sports. I hope you can join Sade Baderinwa and me, tonight at 11.
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