Boy remorseful for blaze as hundreds mourn firefighter

Hundreds of mourners paid their respects Monday at the wake of an FDNY firefighter who was killed in a blaze set by a child. The mother of Emmanuel Watkin-Harris told the Daily News that her son has

News 12 Staff

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Jan 8, 2008, 4:45 PM

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Updated 6,201 days ago

Hundreds of mourners paid their respects Monday at the wake of an FDNY firefighter who was killed in a blaze set by a child.

The mother of Emmanuel Watkin-Harris told the Daily News that her son has been crying since Thursday's fire at their Crown Heights apartment. The 6-year-old told her, "I didn't mean to do it."

Colleagues of Lt. John Martinson, of Engine 249, have said they forgive the boy. "This child didn't know anything and no one should hold anything against this child," said Lt. George Reese.

Authorities said no charges will be filed since the fire was an accident. Watkin-Harris set the blaze while playing with gift wrapping paper over a lit stove.

Monday was the second day of a wake for the 40-year-old veteran firefighter. Fellow firefighters, relatives and friends filed into a Staten Island funeral home to honor the husband and father.

"He shoveled my walk," said family friend Florence LaGress. "You could depend on him for anything."

Martinson's funeral will take place Tuesday at the Church of Saint Clare on Staten Island at 11 a.m.

AP wire reports contributed to this story.

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