The Porterville Fire Department and the community are mourning the loss of two firefighters that were killed in a massive fire at the Porterville city library on Tuesday afternoon.
In a press conference Thursday morning, fire officials said after crews arrived on Tuesday, they were unable to confirm if everyone was out of the building, Fire Capt. Raymond Figueroa, 35, and firefighter Patrick Jones, 25, went inside to search.
Capt. Joanne Bear of the Tulare County Fire Department said a short time later a "mayday" was called over the radio by the firefighters.
Capt. Figueroa died after being rushed to a local hospital.
Jones was unaccounted for until late Wednesday night when crews found his remains after a long and challenging search.
A procession escorted Jones' body to the Tulare County Coroner's Office Tulare early Thursday morning. The motorcade included firefighters and law enforcement from across the Valley.