First responders plan ‘rolling tribute’ to fallen city firefighter

NEW HAVEN — Public safety agencies plan to hold a rolling tribute to local Firefighter Ricardo Torres Jr. as his casket is carried to Hartford for burial Thursday

The 30-year-old died while battling a fire on Valley

Street last week, leaving behind his pregnant wife and son.

Torres’ funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary Church,

5 Hillhouse Ave.

The burial will take place in Hartford, with his family and a small group of city firefighters.

The family has asked for the burial to remain private, according to the statewide honor guard.

The organization plans to have public safety personnel perform a salute from every overpass along Interstate 91 as the funeral procession makes its way north to the cemetery.

North Haven Fire Chief Paul Januszewski is coordinating the tribute.

The funeral procession is expected to leave St. Mary Church by around 11:30 a.m. Public safety vehicles will stage along their designated overpasses with their lights activated. As the procession passes, first responders will perform a hand salute to Torres.

Torres joined the New Haven Fire Department in July 2019, fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a firefighter, according to his obituary.

“Ricardo grew up in West Haven and loved playing hockey, going fishing and snowboarding. He also loved cooking and eating,” the obituary reads.

A fundraiser to support the family has raised more than $266,000, outstripping its original goal of $20,000.

Firefighter Ricardo Torres