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Procession through downtown Honolulu honors fallen firefighter

Firefighter Jeffrey Fiala was honored in a solemn procession as firefighters lined the streets

HONOLULU — First responders gathered along the streets of downtown Honolulu to honor a firefighter who was killed while fighting an apartment fire on Jan. 6.

Firefighter Jeffrey Fiala, 25, was involved in a mayday and roof collapse during the fire in the McCully area.

A procession on Jan. 8 allowed his fellow firefighters to pay tribute to him and support his family. Fiala’s body was escorted to Nuuanu Memorial Park and Mortuary by the Honolulu Police Department and the Honolulu Fire Department, Hawaii News Now reported.

Fiala is the 24th firefighter in Hawaii to lose his life in the line of duty. A 2017 graduate of Radford High School and a 2021 graduate of the University of Hawaii, he is survived by his wife, Fiona, and his parents, Michael and Kristine.

A GoFundMe has been created to help Fiala’s family. If you would like to donate, click here.


Fire Chief Kalani Hao said Firefighter Jeffrey Fiala had been with the department for a year and a half
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Bill Carey is the associate editor for FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. A former Maryland volunteer firefighter, sergeant, and lieutenant, Bill has written for several fire service publications and platforms. His work on firefighter behavioral health garnered a 2014 Neal Award nomination. His ongoing research and writings about line-of-duty death data is frequently cited in articles, presentations, and trainings. Have a news tip? He can be reached at news@lexipol.com.