Funeral procession honors young firefighter

Scores of fire and police vehicles formed a funeral procession this morning to honor a 19-year-old Sharon Hill volunteer firefighter.

Michael D. Reagan Jr., of Holmes, died Saturday from injuries he received when part of a burning garage collapsed on him and two other firefighters in a Sept. 26 blaze.

Today's fire service procession, with fire departments from around the region, left the Cavanagh Funeral Home on Chester Pike in Norwood around 11 a.m.

They proceeded to Media Cemetery on Kirk Lane.

Last night, at a service at the Aldan Union Church on East Providence Road, about 1,000 friends, family and firefighters gathered to remember the young man.

Music from a single bagpiper could be heard from blocks away. Fire and other emergency vehicles arrived in a show of support.

Reagan, who was in the Criminal Justice program at Delaware County Community College, joined the Sharon Hill Fire Company about two years ago. He was also a member of the Holmes Volunteer Fire Company and worked part time with the Ridley Township Police Department.

He was remembered by friends as a serious firefighter who had a playful side.

Sharon Hill firefighter Joe Tesauro, 23, of Collingdale, recalled how Reagan got "everyone laughing" at a recent fire convention when he wore a tight-fitting firefighter Halloween costume.

"He was a fun person to be around," said Tesauro, who was using crutches as he recovered from injuries he received in the fire that killed his friend.

"He was the life of the party," said Chris Miller, 21, of Aldan, the other injured firefighter.

The two said Reagan was always at the firehouse and liked to play games on the computer. Reagan, they said, loved to work on his Camaro Z28 with his father. A die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan, Reagan planned on painting his car "Dallas Blue."

Tesauro and Miller said that just before the fateful fire call, Reagan was trying to talk them into joining him for an all-night sleepout to wait in line for a fast food restaurant's grand opening.

"He was asking everyone at the firehouse to go hang with him," said Miller with a smile.

But, they said, when it came to firefighters, Reagan was one of the best.

"He was the first guy in and the last guy out," said Tesauro.

The fatal fire began around 11 p.m. Sept. 26 in a detached garage on Coates Street in Sharon Hill.

Firefighters were working to put out hot spots when the garage doors and a support beam collapsed.

Sharon Hill firefighter Shawn Payne Jr., 18, from Folcroft, yesterday described his friend as "the best guy out there."

"When we get back on that truck, everyone will know he will be right behind us and right next to us," said Payne.

Reagan was the second volunteer firefighter in Delaware County to be critically injured on duty in the last two months and the seventh in Pennsylvania to die this year.

Parkside firefighter Chase Frost, 21, injured in an Aug. 11 fire, remains in critical condition with burns to more than half his body.

Reagan is survived by his parents, Michael Sr. and Susan; sisters Kristina, Jessica and Marissa; and his paternal grandmother, Karen Allen.