Donations flood in for NT firefighter and family

As of Monday afternoon, $145,860 has been raised via the Help Firefighter Ken Walker GoFundMe page to help the Gratwick Hose Volunteer Fire Co. firefighter and his family after their Oliver Street apartment was set on fire Wednesday.

Shawn Moynihan, a member of the Bergholz Volunteer Fire Co. in Wheatfield, created the GoFundMe page (www.gofundme.com/2hunioc).

"I'm a fellow firefighter from a neighboring company that is trying to help someone who is in need of help," Moynihan's GoFundMe page reads.

It further states, "The Walker family appreciates all of the generosity! New goal is now 130k!! Thank you again for all the donations!"

Moynihan's father, Robert Moynihan, left one of the comments on the page.

"I have never been prouder of my son. He set up this GoFundMe account to help a brother fire fighter. He has never met Ken Walker and (they) are not friends on Facebook. Do we have to be friends to want to help somebody in need? That's what fire fighters do," he wrote.

The fire came after Walker received an anonymous, racist letter Aug. 1, threatening him and telling him to leave his firefighter position. Reports stated 39-year-old Matthew Jurado, a former North Tonawanda firefighter, was arrested Thursday for arson in the second-degree. Jurado reportedly pleaded not guilty Friday morning in North Tonawanda City Court. His bail was set at $50,000.

Jurado reportedly said he did not send the letter.