The Grand Rapids fire department buried a young member of their department Saturday after he passed away following back-to-back emergency responses.
Riley Huiras, 20, fell ill Sunday morning after responding to a fire involving multiple structures in Nekoosa, then responded to a motor vehicle crash.
Sunday morning, Huiras was rushed to the hospital by his own fire department after suffering a brain aneurysm, according to the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune.
He died Wednesday, surrounded by family, according to OnFocus.news.
“Through this service, Riley bravely stood with the men and women of the Grand Rapids Fire Department and Grand Rapids Police Department and touched the lives of countless people in our community,” Grand Rapids Fire Chief Robert Piatt shared. “This is a terribly sad time for the Grand Rapids Fire Department and Grand Rapids Police Department. We are grieving the loss of one of our team members and know he will be missed by many”
Huiras, of Wisconsin Rapids, attended University of Wisconsin-Platteville before transferring to Mid-State Technical College where he sought a degree in criminal justice with the intent to attend a police academy.
He followed his father's footsteps by joining the fire department, the Tribune reported.
"His greatest passion is the betterment of others through police work and firefighting. Riley was a member of the Grand Rapids Auxiliary Police Department which was his pride and joy. He loved doing the ride alongs and seeing police action first hand. Most recently he had joined the Grand Rapids Volunteer Fire Department and enjoyed racing out the door for those fire calls," his obituary read.
Huiras is is survived by his parents Kevin and Tami Huiras, younger brother Owen.
Donations can be made to the Marshfield Clinic Health System's Foundation for Aneurysm and Stroke research or to the Grand Rapids fire or police department.
