Catholic fire chaplain hails ‘selfless, sacrificial’ Cleveland fireman who died in line of duty

A Cleveland-area community is mourning the loss of a local firefighter after he died in what a Catholic fire chaplain described as the “selfless” and Christ-like act of fighting a fire there.

The North Royalton Fire Department — located several miles outside of Cleveland —  announced on Nov. 3 that one of its firefighters, Ryan Milligan, had died after fighting a fire in Broadview Heights the day before.

Facebook post Milligan, 36, had served in the department since 2016. He and his wife, Laura, shared two children; Milligan himself had been pursuing the role of fire lieutenant.

Also injured in the blaze was firefighter Andrew Protsman, who survived and is recovering in the hospital. The two had been present at the fire after responding to a neighboring department’s request for mutual aid, where fire departments request assistance from nearby firefighters.

‘He was a hero’ Milligan’s death and Protsman’s hospitalization have resulted in an outpouring of support from the local community, according to Father Doug Brown, who serves as a chaplain for the Cleveland Division of Fire.

Brown, who also serves as pastor at Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Cleveland, told…