‘I could just picture him as one of my brothers': Ithaca Fire Department pays respects to fallen Binghamton firefighter
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — One final time to pay their respects to a hero they loved but never knew.
'I could just picture him as one of my brothers at Ithaca,' said James Wheal, the assistant fire chief for the Ithaca Fire Department.
Wheal says his firefighters were not going to miss the chance to say goodbye to JR.
'We all started texting each other and calling each other and reaching out to find out what happened, to find out he was killed in the line of duty at a fire doing the job that he loves,' Wheal said.
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It's part of a firefighter's code to support each other.
'To show up even though I didn't know JR, I hope that it's helpful for friends and family and the Binghamton firefighters,' Wheal said.
Through the stories and memories shared Wednesday, the Ithaca Fire Department knows JR would've fit right in.
'I can just tell he was a terrific guy. A guy I'd love to go for a beer with, like to hang out with,' Wheal said. 'It was very humanizing and I think that's the best thing a funeral can do, celebrating what a good person someone is.'
Other fire agencies from around Central New York paid their respects, including the Syracuse, Auburn and Cortlandville fire departments.
'We all do really work together. We often say, 'It's the same circus, different clowns.' Firefighters across the country are a diverse group, but there are a lot of similarities. We support each other, we trust each other, we look out for each other,' Wheal said.
They don't know what tomorrow will bring, but the support and commitment to each other will always remain to the very end.
A go-fund-me for the Gaudet's family has topped 280 thousand dollars. The Syracuse Fire Department's credit union also continues to collect donations. If you'd like to donate to either fund, you can find links to both on the Binghamton Fire Department's Facebook page.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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