Hundreds of Yonkers firefighters turned out to mourn the sudden and unexpected loss one of their own, Yonkers Deputy Chief Christopher Kiernan at Yonkers' St. John the Baptist Church.

Kiernan, a 24-year veteran of the Yonkers Fire Department, died at his Yonkers home Friday, a day short of his 46th birthday.

Outside of his life as a firefighter, Kiernan loved riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle, as well as golfing and skiing with his wife, Moira, whom he married in 1996.

Kiernan started with the Yonkers Fire Department in 1979. He was promoted from firefighter to lieutenant in 1987, then to captain in 1991. He was promoted to assistant chief in 1995 and then deputy chief in 1999.

He is survived by his wife; his mother, Lucille; brother Keith of Yonkers; and sisters Kate Goodwin and Colleen Laevsky, both of Yonkers, and Kerrie Carretta of Congers; and numerous nieces and nephews.