Funeral for North Royalton firefighter killed in the line of duty
MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio (WOIO) - The funeral for North Royalton Firefighter Ryan Milligan was held Monday morning.
Firefighter Milligan was killed in the line of duty on Monday, Nov. 2, while battling a house fire in the 2100 block of West Royalton Rd. in Broadview Heights.
36-year-old Milligan from Seven Hills leaves behind a wife and two young children.
He attended Normandy High School and later continued his education at Tri-C’s Fire Training Academy.
Hundreds of people gathered outside Grace Church in Middleburg Heights as first responders saluted Milligan’s casket.
Louise and Tony Raffin said, “I couldn’t believe it when we came around from Bagley Road – all the fire trucks – from every city in Ohio.”
Michele Tomecko and her husband, who own a sign business, made signs honoring Milligan and handed them out for free. Donations will go to the families of Milligan and Firefighter Andrew Protsman, who was seriously injured in the same fire.
“This hits too close to home. It’s scary. It shows that these guys are all brave souls and heroes,” Tomecko said.
A second firefighter, Andrew Protsman, 38, of Parma, suffered serious injuries in that same fire and remains hospitalized.
According to fire officials, Firefighter Protsman “has a long road to recovery, but he is fighting the good fight.”
The funeral service for Firefighter Milligan was held at Grace Church on Pearl Road in Middleburg Heights.
Milligan’s brother, John, spoke during the service. He said Milligan was the ultimate family man and treated everyone with dignity, grace, and compassion.
“He has always been, and will always be, my hero. We are so proud of you, Ryan. We love you with all of our hearts, and we will miss you every day,” John Milligan said.
The pain of this loss, North Royalton Fire Chief Robert Chegan said, has left a scar the department will carry for the rest of their lives.
“We are not here just to mourn a firefighter; we are here to celebrate the person that wore the uniform,” Chief Chegan said during the service.
Following the funeral service, hundreds and hundreds of police officers and firefighters participated in the procession to the church from the Busch Funeral and Crematory Services on Ridge Road in Parma.
The procession proceeded to Holy Cross Cemetery.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine ordered the United States flag and the State of Ohio flag to be flown at half-staff until sunset on the day of Firefighter Milligan’s funeral.
The State Fire Marshal’s Fire and Explosion Investigations Bureau is leading the investigation into the fire, which is being conducted in partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The cause of the fire remains undetermined.
In addition to firefighters from North Royalton and Broadview Heights, firefighters from Seven Hills and Brecksville were also on the scene of the deadly fire.
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