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Last evening Trenton Fire Department dispatchers announced a signal 5-5-5-5 and announced the passing of Firefighter Manny Rivera of Trenton Fire Department who passed away last evening in the line of duty from injuries sustained in a fire on February 9, 2009.
See news release from Fire Director, Richard J. Laird, Jr. (PDF File) 04/01/2009
Brother Manny Rivera was a strong and proud Fire Fighter,
a man who stood up for what he believed in, and, in the
process, changed reality for the people in his community
forever. Manny was proud of his heritage and fiercely
proud of his family and friends. All those who had the
privilege of knowing Manny would agree that his selfless
generosity knew no bounds.
No gift is greater than the sacrifice for another, and those that made
that sacrifice, if asked to repeat their lives, would do it once more.
“WE will think of Manny every day. And I am sure that when we leave
this world, our last thought will be of his family and love ones... Our
Hero - Kike "
Our love for Manny will live on forever in the hearts of all
See following NJ Firefighter Online stories:
Firefighter Rivera Beef and Beer Benefit
From: The
Times:
Firefighter succumbs to injuries
Thursday, April 02, 2009
BY ALEX ZDAN
The Trenton Times TRENTON -- A city firefighter who was hurt rescuing a man from a burning building in February died from his injuries late Tuesday night. Manny Rivera had been in a coma since he collapsed at the scene that night, after taking off his mask to urge a man who was hanging by his fingers from a window to move onto a ladder and to safety. "By giving his life to save that of another, Firefighter Rivera made the ultimate sacrifice," Fire Director Richard Laird said yesterday. That sacrifice was particularly felt by Jonathan Guttierez Aguero, the man rescued by Rivera that night. "I'm so sad about it, but he's an angel now," Aguero said yesterday. "He saved my life and I'm going to be thankful for giving me a second chance always." Rivera was 42 years old, and married with 5 children. He was a 14-year veteran of the fire department. Firefighters said Rivera began to take a turn for the worse Tuesday morning, and members of the department were at his side along with his family to say goodbye. Just before midnight, the department's radio system transmitted a signal 5-5-5-5 announcing Rivera's death in the line of duty. Around the city, flags flew at half staff by order of the mayor, Douglas H. Palmer. Rivera, who was a member of Engine 3, was working overtime on Engine 7 the night of Feb. 8 when they were dispatched to the 100 block of Washington Street. Upon arrival around 9:45 p.m., they found heavy smoke and fire emanating from the home. Aguero, 29, was trapped on the third floor and hanging from the windowsill, Laird said. Moving into place with a ladder, Rivera removed his mask so he could be heard as he told Aguero to get on the ladder. With smoke billowing in his face, Rivera was able to calm Aguero and get him to climb down. Rivera collapsed as soon as he climbed down to ground level, and was rushed to St. Francis Medical Center. There, he was put in a medically induced coma for over a day. Doctors said he had sustained damage to his brain and heart, possibly due to a lack of oxygen. Projections were not optimistic, with doctors telling his family the time after the coma would be critical. But Rivera showed improvement, responding to a pain test conducted Feb. 12 and displaying a heart rate increase when his family talked to him. On March 12, he was taken to Lourdes Specialty Hospital of Southern New Jersey in Willingboro, where he remained until his death. Full honors are planned at Rivera's funeral Saturday morning, and over 2,000 firefighters from across the region and the state are expected to attend. At a press conference yesterday afternoon, Superior Officers Union president Bill Paradiso said Rivera's death had been a "trauma" to the department. "Manny had numerous friends on the fire department," he said. "It's losing a family member," Laird said. "It's like losing your brother or your sister." Firefighter Union President Wayne Wolk described Rivera as fun loving and skilled at his job. "Manny was a tremendous guy, a tremendous family man, a great firefighter," Wolk said. "He fought hard, he wasn't able to come through." Mayor Palmer said he spoke with Rivera's wife yesterday morning, and praised the close-knit family. "They have just been tremendously courageous through this whole ordeal," he said. Rivera's death is the 18th since the advent of the city's paid fire department in 1896, and the first since 1986. Laird and Palmer said Rivera's name will soon be added to the firefighter's monument in front of City Hall. The viewing will be held at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption on North Warren Street. Calling hours will be from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. Rivera's funeral will be held at the Cathedral on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m., and his casket will be driven on a fire truck to Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery in Hamilton for entombment. |
From the Trentonian:
Beloved fireman succumbs to Feb. 9 injuries
Thursday, April 2, 2009
By Trentonian Staff http://www.trentonian.com
Rivera saved the life of a man hanging from the window of a burning house at 112 Washington St. on Feb. 9, but he succumbed apparently to smoke inhalation, a heart attack and a coma during a seven-week battle for his life.
He died about 11 p.m. Tuesday at the Lourdes long-term care center in Willingboro, Burlington County, with some of his fellow firefighters by his side.
“Manny was a tremendous guy, a family man, a great firefighter,” said Wayne Wolk, president of the Firemen’s Benevolent Association and of the Firefighters Union. “He’s really going to be missed. Our thoughts go out to his family. As his friends, we’re just stunned. He fought, he fought hard, but he wasn’t able to pull through.”
At a press conference yesterday, Fire Director Richard Laird said, “After saving the life of a man hanging from a third-floor window, Firefighter Rivera collapsed at the scene and never regained consciousness. (He) is the definition of a true hero, giving his own life without regard or hesitation to save the life of another. Firefighter Rivera made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Earlier, Mayor Doug Palmer recalled how Rivera “bravely intervened and saved the life of a man hanging from the upstairs window of a home that was engulfed in flames.” Palmer ordered all city flags to half-staff.
“It is said that what lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us,” Palmer said. “Today we say a prayer for the courage of Firefighter Manny Rivera ... and for his loving family at this most difficult time.”
Some 2,000 firefighters from all over the state and country are expected in town this weekend to give Manny a proper sendoff, said Battalion Chief Bill Paradiso.
The viewing for the 14-year TFD veteran, and 42-year-old father of five children, is scheduled tomorrow from 3 to 9 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral, 151 N. Warren St., with funeral services there Saturday at 10 a.m., and burial at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery in Hamilton.
His death is the first in the TFD in 23 years, since the Aug. 4, 1986, blaze at Shenanigan’s Saloon downtown that took the lives of Robert Mizopalko, 33, and Joseph F. Woods Jr., 25. It’s the 18th since the department was formed in 1892.
Director Laird said two investigations into the rescue have just concluded — one by the health department side of the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration, and the other by the Department of Labor’s Office of Public Employee’s Occupational Safety and Health — finding no violations had occurred.
Asked point-blank if anything could have been done differently that night, either by Manny or anyone else, that could have somehow avoided his death, Laird said, “No. His actions were in complete compliance with department standard operating procedures. And he’s a hero. He sacrificed his life for someone else.”
Laird said firefighters began gathering at Lourdes early Tuesday as word of Manny’s deteriorating condition spread. He said he spoke with the family and said a prayer for Manny. He said nobody knows whether Manny understood any of their words.
Laird said Manny was never alone in his long battle to live, as firefighters stayed by his side at all times — and do so even now.
“It was very wearing,” he said. “However, at the same time, the department’s members came together as a family as it should be.”
Paradiso, president of the Trenton Fire Officers Association, said sports enthusiasts on the department were closest to Manny.
“However, when we work, we actually live here; we eat together, we work together, we do everything together,” he said. “It is a family atmosphere to the extent that we are able to get along with each other, we see past people’s differences in where they’re from and who they are, and we just enjoin together as a friendly, friendly group” — during both emergencies, and down time. “Manny had numerous friends,” he said.
Said Battalion Chief C.D. Turner: “He was a tremendous firefighter. He gave his life for someone else.”
Donations may be sent to the family to Fire Headquarters, 244 Perry St., Trenton, in care of the Manny Rivera Memorial Account.
The viewing is tomorrow from 3 to 9 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral, 151 N. Warren St., with funeral services there Saturday at 10 a.m., and burial at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery in Hamilton.
Manuel Rivera Sr.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Manny was born in Trenton and was a graduate of Trenton Central High School and the Mercer County Fire Academy. He had been a Trenton Fireman for 14 years and was presently with Engine No. 3.
Left to cherish his memory are his beloved and devoted wife of 12 years, Dalixa (Montalvo) Rivera; his loving parents, Ernesto Enrique Rivera Sr. and Purificacion Rivera; his caring children, Christopher A. Rivera (18 years), Manuel Rivera Jr. (18 years), Natasha I. Rivera (17 years), Steven A. Rivera (14 years), and Caitlin P. Rivera (12 years); his nephew that he helped raise, Onix Xavier Montalvo; three sisters and a brother, Joann Bello and her husband Benito Bello, Pura Rivera, and Denise Medrano and her husband Joel Medrano, and Ernesto Rivera Jr.; his paternal grandmother, Maria Burgos; and many nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, aunts and uncles on his spouse’s side of the family and his side of the family here and in Puerto Rico; including a nephew, Jaime Roman; nieces, Angela and Leeandra Bello; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Melquiades Montalvo and Cruz M. Negron; a granddaughter; and also his many friends and wonderful fellow firefighters.
A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday (April 4) at The Cathedral of St. Mary of The Assumption, 151 N. Warren St., Trenton. His Excellency Bishop John M. Smith, and Msgr. John K. Dermond will officiate. Entombment will be in Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery Mausoleum, 400 Woolsey St., Hamilton. Viewing hours will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday evening (April 3), and again on Saturday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the cathedral. A wake service will be held Friday evening at 8 p.m. at the cathedral.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions be made to The Manny Fund, C/O the Trenton Firefighters Credit Union, 244 Perry St., 3rd Floor, Trenton, NJ 08618.
Arrangements have been entrusted by the family to the personal care and coordination of Mr. David C. Chiacchio CFSP, Funeral Director and Staff, South Trenton.
For more information see: