JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Volunteers aren't stopping their search for missing firefighters Brian McCluney and Justin Walker.
Pilots flew over the Carolinas Friday looking for any sign of them.
"We're still going. There's been absolutely no reason for us to stop this search until we get those boys home," Walker's uncle, Jim Futch, said. "We're still looking for our kids, we're still in this."
McCluney's fire chief at Station 31 isn't giving up hope either.
"Pray, pray for that miracle. It's not impossible. It's happened in the past. One more won't hurt," Patrick Gouin said.
- Dozens of firefighters help search for two men who went missing while fishing
- "This is a bread crumb they threw overboard": Missing firefighter's tackle bag found by boater
- Photos: Local firefighters to continue search for two missing boaters
- 'We're not giving up until these guys are found:' Search to continue for missing firefighters
- Missing boater's wife helps search by air as rescue efforts continue off Florida coast
- Missing firefighters: 180 volunteers searching off Jacksonville's coast
- Discovery of missing firefighter's tackle-bag helps steer search
- Wife of missing Jacksonville firefighter joins search for husband, friend
- Volunteers in Georgia join efforts to find firefighters lost at sea as search expands
- How to help in the search for missing firefighters lost at sea off Florida Coast
- Volunteer boater recounts covering hundreds of miles in search for missing firefighters
- Pilot searching for firefighters lost at sea says this is some of the hardest flying he's done
- Local doctors discuss what it takes to survive at sea as search continues for missing firefighters
- "People have lasted longer than 4 days at sea" Family, friends, neighbors don't give up on search
- Search for missing firefighters Brian McCluney, Justin Walker suspended at sunset
- Florida pilot won't give up looking for missing firefighters even after Coast Guard suspends search
- 'Unfortunately our best wasn't good enough,' S.C. volunteers finish up search for firefighters
- Family of missing firefighter raising donations to continue searches
He said Saturday will be especially hard at the station. McCluney was scheduled to report for duty.
"He was one of a kind. Everybody loved him, and you couldn't find one person on this job that would say a bad word about him," Gouin said. "By the time he left, you were always a better person after spending time with him."
As Walker's family is asking for more volunteer pilots and spotters to search north into Virginia, a restaurant in Jacksonville is hosting a Bring Them Home benefit.
James Willard of Willard's BBQ said he spent the last few days on the water searching.
STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on this breaking story
He says with the pair's lifesaving skills, he thinks it's too early to stop.
"I can't imagine what they're going through. We're going to help bring them home," he said.
He's inviting people to Station 32 on Lenox Avenue from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday. He's selling chicken dinner plates for $20 and accepting donations.
All funds will go toward the search and the families.
TRENDING:
- Two Jacksonville women arrested in connection to an Amber Alert involving an Orange Park boy
- Florida pilot won't give up looking for missing firefighters even after Coast Guard suspends search
- Jacksonville homeowner shoots woman lurking inside house
- Photos: Women arrested in Flashdancers undercover operation in Jacksonville
- JSO: Man fatally stabbed on Kingston St.; Witnesses says female suspect fled the area
Gouin said support like Saturday's benefit has been helping firefighters get through the days, and McCluney's family is just as grateful.
"They're just a beautiful family," he said. "It's a bad deal. We're still hoping for the best."
Walker's uncle said they're working with Justin's motorcycle club to collect donations to fund the searches. That includes gas for planes.
JFRD said its still collecting donations on JFRD.com, all proceeds will go toward the firefighters' families.
Cox Media Group