Still, watching CityTV’s all-news channel, CP24, on satellite TV was an eerie experience as the network showed shots of the massive explosions over and over and over again.

Having spent time with blogger and renowned speaker Billy Goldfeder last month, I was quietly hoping that despite the magnitude of the fire and explosions in northeast Toronto, we wouldn’t be reading about the propane blast on Chief Goldfeder’s blog, www.firefighterclosecalls.com, which details line of duty deaths.

Sadly, late in the day, Toronto Fire Services announced that a firefighter had been found with vital signs absent, and later confirmed the death of District Chief Bob Leeks.

Several Canadians (including Fire Fighting in Canada) informed Goldfeder about the LODD, and at 11 p.m., I received an e-mail from Goldfeder, sensitively announcing DC Leek’s passing.

This morning, poignant and touching e-mails from contributors who write for Fire Fighting in Canada and who knew DC Leek started pouring in. Another, from a former student of Leek’s, is heartfelt and touching. Click here to see the tribute to a teacher, mentor and friend.

The headlines in the Toronto papers this morning scream Terror in the Night (The Sun), Fire and Rage (Toronto Star) and Gas blast causes bedlam in Toronto (Globe and Mail). It’s a tough day for the Toronto Fire Services and, in particular, for the family and friends of DC Leek. By all accounts, Leek was a wonderful friend and colleague. Our hearts go out to his family and those who worked with him over his 25 years of service.