House Fire Boy Hero Tyler Doohan Gets Firefighter's Funeral

An eight-year-old boy who died attempting to save his family from a house fire in New York will receive a "firefighter's funeral".

Tyler Doohan was widely heralded a hero after he saved six members of his family from a fire at his grandfather's trailer home in Penfield, Rochester, but died attempting to save two more.

The youngster's funeral will held after an online fundraising page raised more than $60,000 (£36,000) to give Tyler "the service he deserves".

Volunteers at the Penfield Fire Company unit have kept an honour guard next to Tyler's body for the since 27 January and he will be declared an honorary firefighter at the end of the service. His family will also receive a special fire helmet inscribed with his name.

Fire officials say more than 100 firefighters wearing "class A" uniforms will attend the service and bagpipes will be played - a tradition for funerals of members of the fire and police departments.

There will not be a funeral procession, at the family's request.

Penfield fire chief Chris Ebmeyer told CNN: "We want to honour him in a way family and friends will remember and look at him as a hero.

"He should be looked at as going above and beyond, even putting his life in danger. This is what firefighters do.

"The young man acted with a lot of courage and bravery to try to rescue his grandfather after rescuing other members of his family.

"He showed valour and strength, and paid the ultimate sacrifice."

Tyler's body was found in his disabled grandfather's bed after he went back into the trailer to rescue him. He had already led six members of his family to safety.

Firefighters said Tyler was attempting to lift 54-year-old Stephen Smith from the bed when he was overcome by the fire.

The funerals of Smith and 63-year-old step-greatgrandfather Lewis Beach are being held at the same time as Tyler's at the St John of Rochester Catholic Church in Fairport.