An Upstate New York firefighter who lost his life battling a massive blaze earlier this year was honored Thursday night at the seventh annual Fox Nation Patriot Awards .

John “J.R.” Gaudet , a Binghamton firefighter, posthumously received the Tunnel to Towers Stephen Siller Award for bravery, kindness and generosity, according to Fox News.

Gaudet died in the line of duty Feb. 12 while fighting a large fire that tore through vacant buildings at 1 and 3 Main St. in Binghamton. The structures collapsed, burying him under the rubble.

“He was the kind of firefighter you could always count on, the one who would have your back no matter the situation,” fire officials said in a statement. “At fires, he was a bull — always first in line to get inside. He would literally run through a wall for

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