One year ago, a New Haven firefighter responded to a fire, never to return home again.
Thirty year old Ricardo Torres Jr. died saving the lives of others.
On Thursday, loved ones, fellow firefighters and community members came together to memorialize him.
“There was a burning home, a 9-1-1 call went out and Firefighter Torres went in. Lives were saved and his was lost,” said Mayor Justin Elicker at a ceremony at the Dixwell Avenue fire station where Torres was assigned.
“I had a difficult time again this morning. I got up at 3 a.m. and tore my speech up because my heart just isn’t right. I’m still angry about it as I know you are, too,” said New Haven Fire Chief John Alston.
Torres’ wife was pregnant at the time of his line of duty death, with a toddler in tow, too.