Milwaukee fallen firefighters honored for their service
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The second week of October is Fire Prevention Week, and on Wednesday, Oct. 12, Milwaukee firefighters who have died in the line of duty were honored.
The 26th annual recognition ceremony took place at the Milwaukee Fire Department headquarters.
The ceremony was packed full of city officials and families of heroes gone too soon.
At the ceremony a list of the names of the fallen heroes were read aloud, paying homage to their service.
While fighting fires has its risk, some service men and women experience death well after the fire is fought.
"Buildings aren’t built like they were in the 1800's. There's a lot of chemicals that are in building now and day, and it becomes very dangerous for us," said Ltd. Matthew Bryant of the Milwaukee Fire Department.
In Milwaukee so far this year, one firefighter has lost his life in the line of duty, dying of cancer.
Families say this is more than a job, but a calling.
"Protecting lives and property, helping people through the worst day of their life, or perhaps the last day of their life," said Paul Floryance, a Georgia firefighter.
Floryance, once served in Milwaukee as a firefighter. He has since moved to Georgia.
The Milwaukee native is not alone in his service. His brother, Joseph Floryance also served on the MFD for 30 years. Paul's brother passed away while on duty, due to stage four brain cancer. He was 55.
Nationwide, in the year 2021, there was a total of 135 on-duty firefighter deaths. That is the highest since the late 1970s.
65 of those deaths were due to COVID.