OWEGO, N.Y. — More than six fire departments showed up to pay their respects for N.Y. Fire Capt. Matthew Porcari.
Capt. Porcari, 34, a father of two, was killed in the line of duty Monday night after the floor gave way while he was battling a structure fire.
“We stick with our own and we support each other in times of loss like what happened last night, and we are here to give our support,” Capt. Tyler Colb, of the Choconut Center Fire Department told WBNG.
Many in the community knew Capt. Porcari well, having grown up in the area with his family and friends. His uncle was one of the firefighters to respond to the structure fire that Capt. Porcari was killed in, according to WICZ.
Another firefighter, Lt. Daniel Gavin was seriously injured in the blaze after he partially fell through the floor. A Newark Valley Fire spokesman said that Lt. Gavin was able to self-extricate himself.
Both men were transported to the hospital where Capt. Porcari later died. Lt. Gavin was transported to a hospital in Syracuse and was recently released.
Lt. Gavin’s father, 40 at the time, was killed in the line of duty in 2003 after suffering a heart attack shortly after responding to an apartment fire according to NIOSH reports.