Farewell and Thank You, Utica Fire Chief Brooks | Local [Video]

UTICA, N.Y. — Those who knew him well are remembering retired, longtime Utica Fire Chief Russell Brooks.

Chief Brooks passed away on Sunday, following a battle with cancer that he fought the same way he lived—courageously and without complaint.

“Russ had a heart that was bigger than the universe,” Utica Food Pantry Board Chair and President Kim Mattia said.

And that’s a good thing because Chief Brooks gave his heart to so much and so many.

And he gave his time—43 years—to the fire service.

“Over the course of his 43 years, he held every rank in the fire department, was a decorated firefighter. Over the years, he had many rescues,” current Fire Chief Scott Ingersoll said.

Ingersoll worked with Chief Brooks. And so did his father.

Chief Brooks didn’t only fight fires with water and hoses; he fought them with ingenuity and drive.

One way he did this was by establishing the rental occupancy program in the City.

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