BUFFALO, N.Y. A single flower — passed from mother to daughter — symbolic of their love for a husband and father — the late Buffalo firefighter Jason Arno, who was killed one year ago in service to his city.
"It just shows what the fire service is about. It’s about family," said Capt. Scott Janowski, Buffalo Fire Dept.
A procession led by a truck from Engine 2, where Arno was stationed, traveled from the firehouse down Main St. to the site in downtown Buffalo where Arno made the ultimate sacrifice, battling a four-alarm fire in a commercial building on March 1, 2023.
"The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but we can never forget what Jason did here," said Paul Seil, chaplain of the Buffalo Fire Dept.
Arno’s wife Sarah and young daughter Olivia — flanked by family, friends, and hundreds of Buffalo firefighters in memorializing the man who died a hero.
"Today I ask that we all remember the legacy left to us and take the time to remember him for who he was and what he stood for," said Buffalo Fire Commissioner William Renaldo. "He was truly the best and brightest this dept. had to offer He was a servant leader with a heart dedicated to helping others with unshakable optimism who put service before self and personified what it means to be a Buffalo firefighter."
Arno was a three-year veteran of the Buffalo Fire Department — known as a loyal friend — a dedicated husband and father who gave of himself for others — and gave his life in his bravery.
"Since Jay’s passing we have been there. We’ve been there for each other. We’ve been there for the citizens of Buffalo. And we’ve been there for the Arno family," said Chris Whelan, president, Buffalo Professional Firefighters Local 282 "It’s what we do. It’s what we will always do."
"Today just shows the growing of support we had for Jay," Janowski added. "What a wonderful guy he was. He was one of a kind. All these men and women here kind off how that."
In the year since the tragedy, his family and friends have created the Firefighter Arno Memorial — or FAM Foundation — working to support the families of firefighters and improve safety on the job.
"It’s really allowed us to come together and have their family and friends be involved in an intimate way and then work with Local 282 and the Buffalo Fire Department to enhance our safety measures, make sure our training’s where it needs to be, and try to prevent this form ever happening again," Whelan said.
In the wake of Arno’s death, the Buffalo fire commissioner says safety and accountability have been a renewed focus within the department. They’ve invested in equipment and technology, extended the first line supervisor course, and incorporated survival skills into the training academy among other measures to ensure firefighter safety.
Honoring the legacy of a life lost, but never forgotten.
