Colleagues mourn fallen firefighter in Strawberry Mansion

STRAWBERRY MANSION (WPVI) -- The procession for 42-year-old Philadelphia Firefighter Lt. Matt LeTourneau ended in his hometown of Springfield, Delaware County Saturday evening.

His body was brought to the O'Leary Funeral Home hours after he died in a morning blaze in North Philadelphia.

Officials say the 11 year veteran of the department was pinned by falling debris.

Today at Springfield Fire Company, he was remembered as a life member.

Acting Deputy Chief Tom Foran of the Springfield Fire Company said, "This is where he started, what put him on the path to be a career firefighter. His dream was to become a career firefighter in Philadelphia. He achieved it."

LeTourneau began serving while in high school at Cardinal O'Hara. He continued to teach and mentor here.

"Absolutely one of the best trained well intentioned and passionate firefighters I've ever met," Foran said.

Director of Emergency Services Delaware County Timothy Boyce said, "As devastating as it is I'm not shocked that he died trying to save someone else."

Jen Leary said, "Matt and I sat next to each other in fire school."

Leary, the founder of Red Paw Emergency Relief Team, the non-profit created to help pets affected by fires and disasters said LeTourneau became a devoted volunteer early on.

She added, "If he was at a fire with pets he would call right away. He did everything, he was a volunteer, a foster, a donor."

LeTourneau even adopted kittens he rescued himself in a fire.

He is survived by his mother and other relatives.

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