Two Connecticut firefighters are among 87 honored Sunday at a national memorial for fallen firefighters in Maryland.
Fallen firefighters Kevin L. Bell, who served in the Hartford Fire Department, and David P. Fiori, who served in the New Britain Fire Department, are two of the 84 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2014, according to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Three others are also being honored who died the year before.
The 34th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service was held at 10 a.m. on Sunday at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The firefighter were also honored at a candlelight service on Saturday night. Departments around the nation rang bells in honor for the fallen firefighters Sunday as part of Bells Across America for Fallen Firefighters.
President Barack Obama also spoke at the service.
"Imagine what it takes to put on that heavy coat and that helmet and override the natural human natural instinct for self-preservation... and run into danger as other are running away... to literally walk through fire... knowing that you may never make it out because you are trying to save people that are strangers," Obama said.
You can watch the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation's full video of the service here:
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Bell, 48, of Hartford, was killed while fighting a fire in Hartford on Oct. 7, 2014. He served with the Hartford Fire Department since his days as a recruit in 2008 to working at companies 11, 14 and 16, according to the foundation.
"He is truly Hartford's Bravest: Kevin is a HERO," his bio on the foundation's website said.
The Weaver High School graduate from the class of 1984 played football and ran track and participated in the Hartford Flag Football League, the Nelton Court Basketball League, the Group Organization and the Roughnecks Organization, according to the foundation's website.
"Kevin had so many gifts, including cooking, playing drums, and his expertise with electronic devices," his bio on the foundation's website said. "Kevin had an amazing love for people and would help anymore. His knowledge of history was extraordinary. To know him is to love him!"
Aside from firefighting, Bell was a Hartford Public Schools security guard, a special officer and wrestling coach in Manchester at Cheney Technical School and an employee at Mass Mutual in Enfield, according to the foundation.
He also had a musical side of him, fondly known as "DJ Kut Master B-Stro the Originator," signing with his group the Busy Boys at Bee Pee Records in 1984 and recording albums like "Funky Fresh Xmas," "That's the Flava" and "Renita," according to the foundation. He first started as a DJ when he was 12. Click here to read his full bio.
Fiori, 59, of New Britain, served for 36 years in the New Britain Fire Department, 22 years of which he was deputy chief, the foundation said. He died last year in the line of duty at the age of 59, according to the foundation's website. Fiori started off volunteering for the fire department as a teen and served on fire rescue crash crews in the United States Marine Corps before being hired as a professional firefighter, the foundation said. He also coached youth sports and supported the New Britain High School football teams, according to the foundation.
"Quiet but courageous, David led by example. He encouraged others to be successful and took pride in the accomplishments of fellow firefighters," his profile on the foundation's website said. "He respected his brother and sister firefighters, and he became one of the most respected individuals in the department and the city."
His family was also important to him. At home, he loved to garden and cook for his family, and he also enjoyed family vacations on Cape Cod, as well as clamming, fishing and kayaking, according to the foundation. Click here to read his full bio.
The Congressional Fire Services Caucus presented 87 American flags flown over the U.S. Capitol to the foundation on the capitol building grounds on Wednesday in honor of the fallen firefighters and they were displayed in the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Chapel until the service, according to the organization's website.
“Firefighters possess an extraordinary blend of courage and compassion which allows them to willingly face tremendous risks to help those in need,” Chief Dennis Compton, chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation said in a statement on the foundation's website. “Each fall, we gather to reflect on the sacrifices of those who died in the line of duty and to let their families, friends and co-workers know they will never be forgotten.”
Obama offered his condolence and promised to help fire departments.
"We reaffirm that as a nation we must work to prevent fires and we must give firefighters the equipment and the support that they need to get the job and come home safe. And that's what we owe every one of you," he said.
