BAY SHORE, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — Family, friends and colleagues gathered on Long Island on Wednesday to bid a final farewell to fallen FDNY firefighter Jesse Gerhard, who died last week a day after battling a house fire in Queens.
Gerhard, a seven-year veteran of the FDNY, was on-duty at his Far Rockaway firehouse last Wednesday night when he suffered a sudden medical episode and collapsed, about 24-hours after battling a hot and smoky two-alarm fire on Beach Channel Drive, near Hartman Lane.
The 33-year-old was rushed to St. John's Episcopal Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A cause of death has yet to be released.
A funeral Mass was held at noon at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Bay Shore. New York City Mayor Eric Adams delivered remarks at the funeral. The service was streamed on the FDNY's Facebook page.
On Tuesday night, fellow firefighters were among the mourners who attended a wake at Frederick J. Chapey & Sons Funeral Home in East Islip.
"We spent some time with his family, and it's so obvious how beloved Jesse was to everyone in his life," Acting FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said. "He was a wonderful uncle, a great son, his dad was telling us how they did woodworking together, took care of his mom, took care of everyone in his firehouse."
Gerhard, who was also a volunteer firefighter in Islip for 12 years, is survived by his parents, his brother and sister-in-law. He is the 1,156th member of the FDNY to die in the line of duty.
The cause of last Tuesday's fire was determined to be accidental, caused by electrical wiring in the basement which spread to combustible materials stored in the basement, according to fire marshals.
Gerhard was part of a team that forces entry and immediately searches for victims. FDNY Chief of Department John Hodgens called it among the "most strenuous" of all the positions firefighters work.
"He worked through the fire, he was relieved," Hodgens said. "We really don't know what happened at this time but we're investigating all possibilities."
Gerhard's family has asked donations be made to Fired Up for a Cure in lieu of flowers.
The Suffolk County Police Department said there will be multiple road closures near the church between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. due to the funeral.
Main Street will be closed between Community Road and 4th Avenue; Mechanicsville Road will be closed between 4th Avenue and Clinton Avenue; and Gibson Street will be closed at the intersections of South Clinton Avenue, Bay Avenue and Ocean Avenue.
Motorists are urged to avoid the area during these times and use alternate routes.
