Honoring a hero: Honolulu mourns fallen firefighter Jeffrey Fiala
Jan 08, 2025
HONOLULU (KHON2) -- A solemn processional through downtown Honolulu on Wednesday, Jan. 8 afternoon honored Honolulu firefighter Jeffrey Fiala, who lost his life in a devastating blaze on Monday, Jan. 6.
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Honolulu police officers joined their firefighting brothers and sisters to honor one of their own as Jeffrey Fiala's body was being moved from the medical examiner's office to Nuuanu Mortuary.
Firefighters, including those from his recruit class of 2024, stood shoulder to shoulder along Beretania Street in front of Firehouse Number One, in a solemn salute. For just a few moments, busy downtown Honolulu came to a standstill.
‘Mayday call’: Firefighter killed while combatting McCully apartment fire
Jeffrey Fiala, 25, was only with the fire department for a year and a half but left a big impact as a son, husband and friend. Outside the Young Street home in McCully where Fiala died, a growing memorial with many leaving photos, flowers, lei and remembrance of his love of the ocean and of life.
The investigation into the fire in ongoing. KHON2 has learned that Hawaii's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched its own probe.
Investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are expected to arrive Thursday, Jan. 9 to take the lead. They're expected to examine every detail, from building safety conditions to how the fire escalated so rapidly.
We're also told the four other firefighters injured in Monday's fire were discharged from Queen's Medical Center Tuesday night and are now recovering at home.
For those in the community who also paused to honor Fiala on Wednesday, it was a reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of all first responders.
"He deserved it you know, everybody watching. Especially the firemen, the comrades," said Dindo Gabrillo, who was watching the processional and had been at the scene of the fire Monday night. He saw the injured firefighters being carried into ambulances that night. "So maybe if he [Fiala] can see us, you know, all the people, he would be smiling."
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There were smiles and many tears, particularly amongst Fiala's recruitmates, who never thought they would have to say farewell to their fellow firefighter so soon.