It is with deepest regret and sorrow that we report the line-of-duty death of New Haven, CT Local 825 member Ricardo Torres Jr. Brother Torres, 30, died while battling a residential fire on May 12, 2021. The IAFF stands ready to support New Haven Local 825 as it mourns the loss of one of its own.
Funeral services will be held at St. Mary Church on Hillhouse Avenue on May 20. Following the mass, Torres will be buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford with full departmental honors. People can also sign Torres’ guest book online.
dedication to service
“Brother Torres gave his life-saving lives,” says General President Ed Kelly. “His dedication to service above self was evident as he made the ultimate sacrifice while rescuing others. Our hearts break for his young family and his Local 825 brothers and sisters. Let our brother’s sacrifice inspire us to fight harder for each other and our families.”
This is a tremendous loss for the Torres family and our entire IAFF family"
“This is a tremendous loss for the Torres family, the sisters, and brothers of Local 825 and our entire IAFF family,” says General Secretary-Treasurer Frank Líma. “We will always remember the sacrifice made by Brother Torres and pray for a speedy recovery for Brother Rankins and all of those injured on this tragic day.”
Death due to emergency fire call
Three other firefighters were also injured during the successful rescue of a woman trapped inside the building. Following the rescue, a Mayday call went out alerting the crew that firefighters were in distress. Just two years into his career as a firefighter, Torres died responding to an emergency call of a fire inside a multi-family building with numerous occupants trapped inside. Torres leaves behind a wife and child, with another child on the way.
One of the injured, Lieutenant Samod Rankins, was taken to the hospital and placed in a medically induced coma at Bridgeport Burn Center. He is recovering. The names of the other two firefighters had not been released.
Quick response
Local 825 and the IAFF responded swiftly to the news of a lost member in New Haven
Local 825 President Patrick Cannon says Torres grew up wanting to be a firefighter and was very well-liked among his brothers and sisters in the fire service. “His nickname was ‘Tornado’ and he lived that to the fullest,” says Cannon. “He took a passion to this job and the same living strength to his family.”
Local 825 and the IAFF responded swiftly to the news of a lost member in New Haven. Within hours of the incident, 3rd District Vice President Jay Colbert was on the ground in New Haven to support the grieving family and Local 825 members.
Providing support
“I offered the full resources of the IAFF to our brothers and sister in New Haven in this time of tragedy,” says Colbert. “That assistance will include both peer support and help with funeral planning."
Cannon, adds, “Local 825, in conjunction with the IAFF and surrounding departments, is supporting our brothers and sisters as we mourn our fallen brother. Firefighter Torres was a hero and gave his life protecting the citizens of New Haven.”
