The International Association of Firefighters plans to honor a local firefighter who died years after battling a major fire in St. Augustine. Michael Riley was one of the first to respond to a massive fire and explosion at a gas station in 2011. His name will be added to a memorial wall in Colorado on Saturday.

Two St. Johns County leaders are pushing for significant changes at the state level to better protect firefighters who experience "line of duty" injuries or sicknesses.

Two St. Johns County leaders are pushing for significant changes at the state level to better protect firefighters who experience “line of duty” injuries or sicknesses. It stems from this explosion and fire in St. Augustine that happened back in August of 2011.

A former St. Augustine firefighter who was one of the first to respond to a massive fire and explosion at a gas station more than 10 years ago has died.

"Firefighters are not disposable," Lani said. "When something happens to them, we should not turn our back and pretend like we don’t see it. If they get sick and they get hurt, we know that they are always going to be there for us. It just feels like we should be the same we should be there for them."