Charity pays off fallen Sun Prairie firefighter’s mortgage

Cory Barr began his firefighting career at age 18, becoming the youngest member in the history of the Sun Prairie Fire Department. In 2017, he was honored as Firefighter of the Year.

In July 2018, he was a 15-year veteran of the fire department when he was killed in an explosion while helping evacuate people near a natural gas leak. The explosion in downtown Sun Prairie leveled or severely damaged several businesses and homes.

Barr is survived by his wife, Abby Barr, and twin daughters.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation paid off the Barr family’s mortgage through its Fallen First Responder Program.

The charity was founded after 9/11 with a mission to provide mortgage-free housing for families of fallen first responders with young children and to build homes for wounded veterans and public safety officers. It also aims to eliminate homelessness among veterans.

“Captain Barr dedicated his life to helping others; in his final moments, he put himself at risk to keep others safe,” Frank Siller, CEO of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, said in a statement. “Tunnel to Towers honors his service and sacrifice this Independence Day by ensuring Abby and his twins can remain in the home where they shared so many memories.”

“I am incredibly proud to be the surviving wife of Cory James Barr,” Abby Barr said in a statement. “He is the reason I am who I am today and the reason I have two beautiful daughters. Tunnel to Towers’ support makes our situation so much less stressful. My goal in life is to give my daughters the best life possible and with Tunnel to Towers’ support, I can do just that.”

More people are moving to the country because of Madison’s housing crisis