A New Haven firefighter was released from the hospital Sunday, nearly two weeks after he was seriously injured in a house fire that killed a fellow firefighter.

Lt. Nuke Rankins walked out of Bridgeport Hospital to an emotional sendoff, where he was recovering in the burn unit.

"It's been a long 11, 12 days -- and we're just glad he's able to walk out of here," Rankins' sister said.

Rankins was found unconscious in a fire at a multifamily home on Valley Street in New Haven that left Firefighter Ricardo Torres Jr. dead.

Rankins was in critical condition and taken to the hospital for respiratory injuries.

As the New Haven community came together to say their final goodbyes to Torres just days before, they surrounded Rankins to watch him leave the hospital. Rankins had his 29th birthday Saturday.

Rankins' family says he is on the road to recovery and plans to take it day by day, but they're asking everyone to keep the Torres family in their thoughts and prayers.