NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Hundreds of first responders from around the country and across the state descended on the city of New Haven on Thursday to say goodbye to a fallen hero.
Ricardo Torres Jr., the 30-year-old firefighter who died earlier this month while fighting a blaze, was laid to rest.
“The world needed a hero and God picked you to be that one,” his mother Cathy Foster-Mendez said during the funeral services. “I am so proud of you and the man you have become. Rest in eternal peace my beautiful boy until we meet again.”
Torres died after responding to a house fire on Valley Street on May 12.
The outpouring of love and support for Torres’ family and his fellow firefighters was palpable throughout Thursday as hundreds of first responders lined the streets from the New Haven firehouse to St. Mary Church as the procession walked through the city.
“It’s a brotherhood and a sisterhood and our heart goes out to the people here in New Haven, the fire department here in New Haven and the fire departments along the East Coast that are feeling this tragedy,” Jake Whittington, with the Austin Fired Department in Texas, told FOX61 News outside of the church. "We've had it happen in our state and we are up here to pay respect to them and show them that we are feeling what they are feeling down there in Texas."
Fallen New Haven firefighter Ricardo Torres, Jr. laid to rest
During the service, those closest to Torres recalled how he always dreamed of being a firefighter and always wore his uniform with pride.
“Every time you saw him, he was smiling. I would say ‘Torres, how’s it going?’ – ‘Living the dream, chief.’ And smiling, always smiling,” New Haven Fire Chief John Alston said.
The fire chief recalled when he visited the hospital to visit Lt. Samod Rankins, who was also injured in the fire and continues to recover from his injuries.
“He couldn’t speak but he wanted paper. The first thing he wrote was ‘Where is Ricardo? Where is Torres? I wanna see my crew,’” Alston said. “He wrote it over and over again.”
Alston said Torres loved going to work, respected his crew and honored the uniform he wore. He said he learned from Torres not to take life for granted.
The chief announced that this fall the fire department will be honoring Torres.
"With training support symposium on firefighter tactics, mental health, health safety and well-being of firefighters, support services for spouses and significant others, leadership and partner support. We will never forget him," Alston said. "Rest in peace… We will take it from here."
Torres’ wife Erica Martinez, who is expecting the couple’s second son in a few weeks, spoke briefly at the service, saying that she still cannot accept his death, but the support she has felt from everyone has helped her immensely.
“Someone let me know you had passed away and I could not believe it. I still cannot believe it,” she said. “I said in that moment and I will say it again, ‘Ricardo you idiot. You’re supposed to be here. We need you. I need you.”
Martinez continued: "I know this grieving stuff is going to take time but I don’t have time. I just want to fast forward through the pain and get to the point where I have peace with all of this because it is unbearable... It is a privilege to have been loved by you to have been chosen by you and take care of your two sons for you."
After the service, the procession carrying Torres’ casket made its way up Interstate 91 to Hartford’s Cedar Hill Cemetery, his final resting place.
Every overpass along the route was closed briefly while the local fire departments raised a flag to honor their fallen brother.
“It’s an honor and privilege to be here for him and his family to show that this a true brotherhood above all," said David Gade, a Wallingford Firefighter. "This could happen to us, it could happen to anybody.”
"I think there's been a lot of emotion and it's been a challenging week for the fire department and the community,” New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker told FOX61 News. “I've been inspired by many experiences I've had and the outpouring love and support.”
He added: "The mutual aid we're seeing – there's a fire truck from Waterbury behind me because our partner towns are helping to cover so our firefighters can mourn."
Gov. Ned Lamont, who attended the services said: "Nothing more important than serving your community.
"That's what all the family here and it's one big family they stick together and even the New York crew is up here showing their support and sympathy if what we're going through," he said.
A GoFundMe page was set up last week to help the Torres family with an initial goal of $20,000. It is now at just over $300,000.
New Haven firefighters, those who worked on Torres' shift, designed special memorabilia people could purchase with all funds going to the family as well. Learn more about that here.
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.