A massive fire that broke out on a cargo ship in Port Newark in Newark, New Jersey last week took the lives of two Newark firefighters. Wayne Brooks Jr. and Augusto Acabou were killed while battling the blaze that ultimately took six days to extinguish. The Newark Firefighters Union is raising money to support the families of the late firefighters who sacrificed their lives to contain the fire. The funds raised will be split equally between the two families.
“Wayne was a real life superhero,” Terry said. He remembers his nephew as being a “tremendous” husband, father and son.
“He loved life. He was an individual you could count on at any time, for anything. He wasn’t afraid of any type of danger at all. He just was a magnificent young man,” Terry said.
Terry said both he and Brooks Jr. come from a family of fire responders, and that for Brooks Jr., being a firefighter was “deep in his soul.”
Despite this being a time of grief for the families, Terry said there is a “lot of love being shared” between the Brooks Jr. and Acabou families and added that the Brooks family will be attending Acabou’s wake.
Terry asks that the community continue to pray for the families affected by this tragedy.
The viewing for Brooks Jr. will take place on Thursday, July 13 between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart followed by his funeral on Friday, July 14th at 10 a.m. The Cathedral is located at 89 Ridge Street in Newark.
To donate to the Go Fund Me for the families, visit this link.