I did some looking since the story seems hard to believe and I found the following at a website called, http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumor...firefighter.htm.

While some of the details in the story were evidently made up, the basic story is true. I'm quoting that site here ...

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Although several details in this particular eRumor version of the story are not completely accurate, the story is true. "Billy" is actually 7-year-old Frank Salazar (his family called him "Bopsy") and he was the first child to be helped by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that fulfills the wishes of children with life-threatening illness. The story is from 1981. It was Make-A-Wish that made the contact with the Phoenix Fire Department as a part of one of three wishes that Bopsy had. The other two were to visit Disneyland and ride in a hot-air balloon. All his wishes were fulfilled.

Make-A-Wish contacted firefighter Bob Walp who was well known to children in Phoenix as "Fireman Bob" on the popular "Wallace and Ladmo" television program. Bopsy was welcomed to a fire station where a custom-made uniform was waiting for him complete with a yellow helmet and coat. He did not go to any fire scenes that day, but did ride in the fire truck and got to use a fire hose. The day ended with his being given a firefighter badge.

Later, when Bopsy's condition worsened and he was in the hospital, it is true that some of his firefighter friends came through his hospital window for a visit. It was five firefighters, not 16. They prompted some smiles from Bopsy then left. He died later that evening.

I also checked with Snopes and it said basically the same thing with a few more details. You can check it at: http://www.snopes.com/glurge/fireman.asp

You might also want to read the story as written by one of the firemen and look at photos from the actual event. The story is just as touching as the one I first quoted from the email! It's at: http://phoenix.gov/fire/bopsystory2002.pdf.