800 attend funeral for firefighter killed on duty

NORMAL, Ill. (AP) — A firefighter killed while responding to a traffic accident is being remembered for his love of family, friends and career.

The (Bloomington) Pantagraph reports (http://tinyurl.com/cecsukj ) that about 800 people attended funeral services Monday for 39-year-old Chris Brown at Eastview Christian Church in Normal.

Brown was a full-time firefighter for the Bloomington Fire Department. He was killed Tuesday night while working with the Hudson Fire Department at an accident on Interstate 39 when a semitrailer hauling cars hit several of the emergency responders' vehicles. Five other firefighters were injured, and the driver was cited.

The Rev. Ken Graham says Brown "died as he lived, serving and caring for others."

On Sunday, more than 4,000 people, including firefighters and honor guards from across the state, attended a visitation to honor Brown.

___

Information from: The Pantagraph, http://www.pantagraph.com