Search for missing firefighters Brian McCluney, Justin Walker suspended at sunset

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Action News Jax has the latest on the search for the missing firefighters from Jacksonville, Georgia and South Carolina, as well as the latest developments from officials -- watch on Action News Jax on CBS47

Thursday marked a disheartening day for friends, family, co-workers and loved ones of firefighters Brian McCluney and Justin Walker.

The U.S. Coast Guard, FBI, Navy, Air Force, Customs and Border Protection, as well as local and out-of-state fire departments, covered at least 105,000 square miles in the search for Brian McCluney and Justin Walker.

Flanked by fire department leaders and union presidents, Coast Guard Cmdr. Mark Vlaun addressed the public.

He stated the computer models are no longer promising, and the search would end Thursday night.

Related: Coast Guard, JFRD to suspend active search for missing firefighters lost at sea at sundown Thursday

An emotional Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Chief Keith Powers echoed Vlaun's message.

"That is an extremely tough decision because we've got a brother out there that we just haven't been able to find," said Powers.

He spoke to the difficulty loved ones are facing right now.

More information on how you can help in the search can be found on JFRD.com.

"I just left the family right before we came out there and they're heartbroken," he said. "And I can't say that I feel any different right now."

• 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

The Coast Guard tells Action News Jax it has been meeting with the families along the way, offering them transparency as they face the unknown.

"Today, we actually brought in the search-and-rescue planners," said Vlaun. "The team that put the rescue together and operated out of the water. They walked them through step by step everything we knew and every action we took from there on in."

In speaking to neighbors of McCluney who know of his family, a woman who lives nearby named Sweta Jha said the community is choosing to hold out hope.

She tells Action News Jax their neighborhood is banding together, choosing to remain positive despite the uncertainty.

"Everyone is praying, and everyone is so positive that these guys will be back," she said.

STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on this breaking story

TRENDING: 

Cox Media Group