SALISBURY, N.C. -- A news conference is scheduled Friday where officials are expected to release more information about the Salisbury fire that killed two firefighters.

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agents have scheduled the news conference at 2 p.m. at Salisbury City Hall.

Thousands of mourners from across the Carolinas gathered to say goodbye to two fallen firefighters in Salisbury on Thursday afternoon.

Justin Monroe, 19, and Victor Isler, 40, were fatally wounded while fighting a blaze at Salisbury Millwork, a woodworking company, last Friday. The captain of their crew was also injured, along with several firefighters who went in to rescue the men.

The dual funeral for the men began shortly after 2 p.m. in Omwake-Dearborn Chapel at Catawba College. Because the chapel could only hold about 1,200 people, the rest of the crowd was directed to an auditorium where they watched the service from a live feed.

Friends, co-workers and family members, some wearing photos of the fallen firefighters, took turns speaking about Monroe and Isler alternately.

Both had senses of humor and passion for what they did, speakers said. Monroe loved hunting and fishing, in addition to firefighting, which he’d been doing since his early teen years. Isler loved his wife and two children in addition to his job.

“I love that no matter how serious (Justin Monroe) tried to be, all it took was eye contact with him and you could see he was about to bust, trying to hold back a grin,” said Jonathan McCaskill, a friend of Monroe’s.

“The Victor we know and love wouldn’t allow us to call him a hero for doing the job he loved,” said Shana Rae, Isler’s sister-in-law.

His sister also spoke of his work as an EMT at ground zero after Sept. 11, 2001. She said one of his dreams was to be a true firefighter, which is something that she said those in the chapel did for him.

Firefighters Honored Well Beyond Walls Of Chapel

Prior to the service, many people who didn't know the firefighters still paid their respects.

They lined the procession route from the funeral home to the chapel, waved flags and wore ribbons. Many said the same thing -- that it will take a long time for the community to get the deaths.

Salisbury resident Lynn Raker said, "When you think about these two men who have dedicated their lives to saving lives, you realize that it's just very special."

People also hung signs and bows. Some flags had a black ribbon with them, a symbol of the grieving community.

One downtown Salisbury store owner, Earl Newman, said, "I just keep clinging on to what God tells us, that he won't put any more on us than we can handle."

His son-in-law is a firefighter and responded to the same call where the two firefighters died.

Newman's daughter added, "Even if it wasn't our own, we all feel the loss."

As the procession approached the chapel, residents and thousands of fellow firefighters from across the country lined the sidewalks in front of the building, many saluting and some crying as fire vehicles draped with black sashes carried the caskets up the circular drive.

A procession also carried the bodies of Monroe and Isler from the medical examiner’s office in Charlotte to a funeral home in Salisbury on Monday afternoon. Dozens of citizens and service men and women stood along the highway and on interstate overpasses to pay their respects to the men.

A number of men and women in uniform also attended the wakes for Isler and Monroe on Wednesday.

After the funeral service, both caskets were carried to Rowan Memorial Park, where Monroe was laid to rest. His family received his helmet and the American flag that covered his casket.

Also, as a sign of respect, fire hoses sprayed recycled water into a pond a few yards from Monroe’s specially decorated vault (see sidebar). Bells also tolled at the cemetery every hour on the hour all day Thursday.

Isler’s casket remained on his engine company’s truck during the burial and was then returned to the funeral home. His body is being flown to New York for burial.

Investigation Into Fire Nearing Completion

Investigators have not yet released a cause for the fire. They’ve scheduled a press conference for Friday afternoon.

Investigators from the Occupation Safety and Health Administration were at the scene on Martin Luther King Boulevard, combing through the rubble as the funeral took place a few miles away.

Firefighters from Belmont also stopped by to take in the scope of damage with their own eyes.

“It’s crazy how much fire can do to a building and how much was in there coming down on top of you,” said firefighter Ben Thompson.

He and the other young volunteer firefighters said the images from Salisbury will be in their minds the next time they’re called out to a fire.

“It’s a big eye-opener to see something like this. This young man and the older gentleman, too, either way it’s a tragic loss for the brotherhood we are in,” said Caleb Kato.

“Definitely makes you think twice about going in a structure with it on fire,” said Matthew Silvers.

Firefighter Justin Westbrook said, “It just brings it all into reality, being out here, seeing just how much damage it was. Makes it true, makes you feel bad for the families.”