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'Dad, You Are My Hero' — FDNY Chief Killed in Blast Honored at Funeral

By Janon Fisher | October 2, 2016 10:16am
 Funeral for FDNY Chief Micheal Fahy 

  
FDNY Chief Funeral
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YONKERS — A double wall of FDNY blue uniforms lined the street leading up to Annunciation Church on Saturday morning as the casket of Deputy Chief Michael Fahy was escorted to a final farewell for the fallen city firefighter.

Fahy, 44, a father of three, was killed on Sept. 27 when leaking gas at a marijuana grow house on West 234th Street in Kingsbridge exploded about 7 a.m., sending deadly debris into the street.

Fahy was struck in the head and body and died at Allen Hospital soon after. About a dozen other first responders were also injured in the blast that destroyed the two-story building.

"He put himself in harm's way so that others would be protected," FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said in his eulogy.

Nigro had previously said that Fahy was a dedicated firefighter, who was a "rising star" in the department.

The fallen deputy chief, whose father was a high-ranking firefighter in the department, went to law school, passed the bar exam and worked in a white-shoe law firm for 9 months before giving it up to follow in his dad's foot steps.

Fahy lived with his wife, Fiona, and their children in the Crestwood section of Yonkers, where he coached the kids in soccer and cooked his prized meatballs.

His son Michael and daughter Anna, barely able to see over the podium before a packed crowd of firefighters from the 19th Battalion, Engine 17 and Ladder 33 and high ranking city officials, insisted on giving their own thoughts on their dad at the service.

"My dad was a wonderful dad," said Anna. "He was coaching sports and fighting fires."

"Dad, you are the greatest," Michael said. "I could always count on you. You were always there on the sidelines. You were always proud of me and I am so proud of you. Dad, you are my hero."

Mayor Bill de Blasio also expressed his gratitude on behalf of the city for Fahy's sacrifice in the line of duty.

"Michael was one of those people who provided a foundation for everything good in our society," de Blasio told the congregation.

Garivaldi Castillo, 32, and Julio Salcedo, 34, were arrested last week and charged in connection with the marijuana grow house. On Thursday, the assistant Bronx District Attorney in charge of the case said she was considering a murder charge against Castillo.