Watch NY Firefighters Help Seriously Ill Colleague Fix Home

Aug. 5, 2020
Between 60 to 70 Rochester firefighters turned out Wednesday to do home repairs for Lt. Steve Kelly, who has been dealing with an illness after he was injured on the job.

Dozens of New York firefighters are helping to do home repairs for a colleague who become seriously ill after an on-duty injury.

Rochester Fire Lt. Steve Kelly has been unable to landscape, fix windows and other needed work around the house because of his illness, WROC-TV reports. So between 60 to 70 fellow firefighters turned up Wednesday for a little fix-it duty, with materials donated from local businesses.

“Some of the work going on already included deck work, he’s getting some siding and donations are rolling in,” Lt. John Peckham, who has known Kelly for more than 25 years told WROC.

The firefighters will return Thursday to finish the repair work. 

“(Kelly’s) an extraordinary firefighter," Peckham told WROC. "He’s got a heart of gold, but also the heart of a lion. I’ll go anywhere with him."