Milford Fire Department honors honorary firefighter

June 7, 2024

Jessica Mathews / [email protected]

A young man was named an honorary firefighter Thursday afternoon as part of a new project launched by the Milford Fire Department.

Project Fire Buddies is a project started by Illinois firefighters to help children in their community suffering from serious illnesses. The Milford Fire Department recently formed Michigan's first chapter.

Joe Bonish, firefighter/EMT and CPR instructor, told WHMI that what brought them to be part of the organization was something they put in place to reach out and help a member of the community. He said a young Milford man, John Fallat, was well known to firefighters. Fallat suffers from a severe form of autism and other health problems and is said to have had a difficult time. Fallat expressed to the Milford firefighters how much he wished he could become a firefighter, “just like them.”

Bonish says they picked Fallat up yesterday afternoon from his home in a fire truck and were followed by their rescue truck and ladder truck.

Thanks to donations from area firefighters and their friends, the department was able to give Fallat his own fire helmet with a personalized nameplate from King Kong Leathers, various fire department t-shirts, stickers and challenge coins.

Fallat also received letters from local Assemblywoman Elissa Slotkin and Michigan State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer, both recognizing him for his service to the community as an honorary firefighter.

At the fire station, Fallat had his favorite lunch of gyro sandwiches and sweet potato fries upstairs where the firefighters eat and prepare their meals. After lunch there was a tough afternoon of training, during which Fallat was able to spray fire hoses and drive the ladder truck.

Bonish said the event went “great” and it was truly a great experience for Fallat and everyone at the department.