Rochester community honors fallen firefighter, paramedic Adam Finseth

RFD, community gather to honor slain Burnsville firefighter

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(ABC 6 News) – The Rochester Community came together Tuesday night to honor one of their own.

Burnsville firefighter and paramedic Adam Finseth, a John Marshall graduate, was memorialized at Rochester Assembly Church.

Finseth, alongside officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, were killed on Feb. 18 after responding to a domestic violence call.

The tragedy has been met with outpourings of support from communities all across Minnesota.

— RELATED: Update: Chip Shots proceeds from Monday go to Finseth family GoFundMe

Friends of Finseth who spoke at the vigil say it’s been an extremely difficult week since his passing, and it took all they had to get up on the stage to honor their dear friend.

“There are some who know daily what it means to perhaps pay the ultimate price,” said Rochester Councilmember Norman Wahl of Ward 3.

Friends and family say Finseth was always prepared to pay that price, but no one was truly ready for it to happen.

Now the Rochester community is gathering with those who loved Finseth, doing all they can to honor his memory.

“Though he may be gone, his story will continue on through his wife, his children, his family, his friends and all the communities who were lucky enough to have Adam be part of them,” said Finseth’s lifelong friend Jon Doring.

Each of Finseth’s friends remember his unwavering kindness, selflessness and his laugh that could light up an entire room.

“Adam had the most contagious laugh, and anybody who knows him knows that that’s a fact, just hearing it would bring a smile to your face,” said another of Finseth’s longtime friends Dave Chiarini.

This emotional tribute made one thing clear: Finseth impacted many in Rochester, whether they knew him personally or not.

— RELATED: State lawmakers take up gun violence prevention bills Wednesday

“A situation like what happened in Burnsville is something that a lot of first responders in town can relate to in terms of types of calls we might have been on, maybe not that quite involved in it, but you can think about what it might be like to happen here,” said Rochester Fire Department Captain Brett Knapp.

It is certain this fallen hero’s bravery and dedication to helping others will never be forgotten.

There will be another memorial for all three of the first responders who lost their lives in the shooting at Grace Church in Eden Prairie at 11 a.m. Wednesday.