The wife of a firefighter killed when a fireball tore through a burning house joked at his funeral today that the sound of sirens was music to her husband's ears - even when the family was on holiday.
"He loved riding in the big truck," wrote Lynn Lessard in a letter read by a chaplain.
"Even when we were on holiday you could see his ears perk whenever he heard the siren."
More than 750 friends, family and uniformed police and firefighters crowded into a church for the funeral of Harold Lessard, 55, who died in a sudden explosion of flames when he and several other firefighters were trapped on the second storey of a Winnipeg home Sunday.
Another fireman, Thomas Nichols, 57, also died in what is known as a flashover, which occurs when gases and surfaces in a room ignite at superheated temperatures.
A firefighter injured in the blaze also thanked his dead colleague for saving his life.
In a letter read by his family, Lionel Crowther - who suffered burns to his arms and shoulder - said Mr. Lessard urged him to escape through a window of the burning home before him.
"It was hard for me not to step, but the captain told me to go first," Mr. Crowther wrote. "I appreciate what Capt. Lessard has done for me and my family."
Mr. Lessard's wife wrote how proud her husband was of his children Christine and Bryan, a rookie firefighter in Shilo, Man., who recently accepted a job with Calgary's fire department.
Alex Forrest of the United Firefighters of Winnipeg remembered Mr. Lessard as a fun-loving man, who relished his job and never had a frown on his face.
Mr. Forrest said outside the Mennonite church where the service was held that while firefighters love the job, the work is dangerous.
"He always risked his life for others," said Mr. Forrest.
"(Firefighters) love the job and are filled with pride, but when you look at the hazards it's such a cruel irony that the job you love can ultimately take your life."
Mr. Lessard was also remembered as an enthusiastic gardener whose backyard was described as an oasis and an abundant source of fresh tomatoes for friends and family.
A large colour photo of him stood on an easel at the front of the church. His red fire helmet lay before it, alongside a bouquet of red roses.
People streaming into the building on the frigid day witnessed a tradition firefighters observe when one of their own has fallen. Two pumper trucks were parked in a cross formation with their tow ladders reaching to the sky, a Canadian flag draped between them.
After the service, Mr. Lessard's ashes were to be driven to his station for one more journey on one of the trucks.
Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire, although they have said it is not suspicious in nature.
Mr. Crowther and Ed Wiebe, 51, remain in hospital.
Mr. Wiebe suffered burns to 70 per cent of his body but is expected to survive.