Hundreds Gather to Remember a Fallen Firefighter
To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
Members of the West Webster Fire Department were in the Southern Tier Sunday afternoon for the funeral of a firefighter killed in the line of duty last week.
Captain Matthew Porcari died when he fell through a floor while fighting a house fire on Monday near Owego in Tioga County.
Hundreds of people and firefighters from across the country came together to remember the life of the fallen hero at the town's middle school.
Matthew Porcari organized the Owego Fire Department's trip to Webster last month.
Members of the West Webster Fire Department were at his funeral to return the favor on Sunday.
"It's pretty amazing to know that he was the one that helped Owego get set up to come visit us and help us and we had to make sure to get down here to help them," said Jim Deisenroth, West Webster District Fire Chief.
A second firefighter was injured by the flames in Newark Valley on Monday night. Lieutenant Daniel Gavin was also in the building when the floor collapsed. He was released from the hospital.