Viewing, salute held for Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Chief John Walsh
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A viewing and salute for fallen Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Battalion Chief John Walsh was held on Sunday.
The viewing took place at Slater Funeral Home in Scott Township along Greentree Road from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. There also was a final salute at 7 p.m. with uniformed personnel in attendance.
Dozens of firefighters packed into the funeral home to say goodbye to Battalion Chief Walsh.
Walsh suffered a medical emergency while in command of a house fire scene on Thursday in East Hills. He was taken to the hospital from the scene and ultimately died at the hospital.
As one of his family members told KDKA-TV, he died doing what he loved. It was a moment that was special for his family, both the one at home and the firehouse.
Rich Baur has fond memories of going to Walsh's home when he was a kid and playing with toy fire trucks.
"It's kind of crazy to me seeing all this. He was such a great guy and an awesome uncle," Baur said. "He was always the light of the room, and he was always just such a great uncle to me, and he always called me 'Richard' every time he saw me."
Watch: KDKA-TV's Ricky Sayer reports
Walsh's car sat in front of the funeral home. His colleagues took care of dressing the car in black.
Baur didn't realize until today how important Walsh was to the Pittsburgh firefighters community.
"He's been a firefighter his whole life. He loves to do it. It's his passion," Baur said.
Another family member told KDKA-TV that it was humbling to learn how Walsh helped so many around him.
"Today has been really great. Seeing the support from the community. It's been very helpful to our family."
Much of that support has been coming from a family that honors their own.
"I think the world has lost a great man, a great firefighter, someone that truly cared about Pittsburgh, cared about his city, cared about helping people, cared about his family, and just a great person in general."
Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Chief Darryl Jones said he was an excellent leader and a great person.
"This is a deep cut," Chief Jones said. "We are not going to get over this easily. If we stay together and stand together, we will overcome this."
The union said that Chief Walsh's "unwavering passion for the job, his courageous service, and his remarkable leadership over 37 dedicated years will never be forgotten."
"Rest easy, Chief Walsh," the union said. "We have the watch from here."
Funeral mass planned for Monday
On Monday, the funeral mass will be held for Chief Walsh at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland beginning at 10 a.m.
The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety has issued a road closure alert in advance of the funeral procession on Monday.
Police will close Fifth Avenue from Bellefield Avenue to Wilkins Avenue from 8:00 a.m. until the service concludes. Additional closures are expected on adjacent surface streets leading to Fifth Avenue to prevent traffic from entering the roadway, according to a news release from the Department of Public Safety.
Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses will be temporarily re-routed during the service.
Additionally, no parking signs from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. have been posted along Fifth Avenue from Bellefield Avenue to Wilkins Avenue.
KDKA-TV understands that two firefighters will stand next to the casket overnight ahead of the funeral on Monday.
