RI firefighters travel to Worcester for funeral of Christopher Roy

December 15, 2018 9:20 am

By: Amanda Pitts

alpitts@abc6.com

@APittsABC6

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — Hundreds of firefighters from across Rhode Island are traveling to the funeral of fallen Worcester firefighter Christopher Roy.

Roy was killed last Sunday while battling a blaze at an apartment building. He left behind a 9-year-old daughter.

“We all make sacrifices in this job. Our family makes the most sacrifices,” said Matthew Howard of the East Greenwich Fire Department.

The 36-year-old had only been on the job for two and a half years. Thousands attended his wake on Friday, and fire departments from across the Northeast are expected at his funeral Saturday.

“If it was me and I walked out during one of the worst times in my life and saw a sea of support, it would mean the world to me. So, I’m hoping to do the same for them,” said Howard.

Men and women from the Cranston Fire Department, East Greenwich Fire Department, and Smithfield Fire Department boarded a bus early Saturday morning for Worcester. Woonsocket, Warwick, and Newport firefighters are also heading to the funeral.

“Whether it’s Cranston, Worcester, Boston, New York, California… we all fight the same fires. When its one of us, it could be any one of us,” said Scott Robinson, President of the Cranston Firefighters Union.

They’re hoping to show Roy’s family that they’re not alone in their suffering.

“When they walk out of that church today, they’re gonna see thousands of firefighters there and know that they’re not alone in this tragedy,” said Robinson.

Worcester Firefighters IAFF Local 1009 has set up a memorial fund for Roy’s daughter, Ava. Donations are can be made payable to the Ava Roy Fund and sent to the Worcester Fire Department Credit Union at 34 Glennie St., Worcester, M.A., 01605.