EXCLUSIVE: Firefighters in fatal Gesner Street blaze that killed 4 children speak to Action News

SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- They were the first, first responders. They agreed to tell Action News their story from that awful morning.

Richard Fath was sitting watch on July 5th when he heard an engine from several miles away dispatched to a rubbish fire just around the corner on Gesner Street.

Curious, he walked around the corner to investigate and saw major flames.

"I said ring the bells and I made a beeline for the truck to get dressed and we hiked everybody out. We were there in seconds," Fath said.

"When we get on to the block, it is chaos. There are three houses fully involved in fire," Lt. Armand Gersbach said.

Their focus was on the trapped children.

The fire was so hot it started melting siding across the street.

These firefighters say a rescue attempt was impossible.

"If you have cars across the street and siding across the street destroyed by the radiant heat, I would have to agree with lieutenant, it was untenable," Battalion Chief Anthony Hudgins said.

The flames claimed four young lives, including a 1-month-old.

Two days later, protesters including the father of two of the children, blasted the firefighters claiming they took a half hour to respond.

They also claimed a man who knocked on the firehouse door to report the fire was turned away.

That didn't happen, says Fath.

"No, the first contact I had with anyone was after I already had gone out to investigate," Fath said.

The City released 911 calls and a timeline showing the response time was only four minutes.

The firefighters said Tuesday, initially they were baffled by threats directed at them, but have come to believe the anger is a part of the grieving process.

"Four children died. I couldn't imagine how I'd process that if my children died. There is grief is unimaginable,"Gersbach said.

"As time goes one you understand they are hurting too and it may be misdirected. Things were said, but we all have to move past it together as a community," Fath said.

The funeral for the four children who perished is scheduled for this Saturday at 9:00 a.m.

Action News is told the long awaited fire marshals report into the possible cause of the blaze is expected to be released soon.