CLAREMORE, Okla. — More than 1,000 people have gathered in a northeast Oklahoma city to honor a fire captain who was killed during weekend flooding.
Claremore fire Capt. Jason Farley died during a late Saturday night rescue of several people from flooding at a duplex, the Tulsa World reported. He became submerged in water after trying to walk across a flooded ditch, and his body was recovered early Sunday.
A crowd on Sunday night gathered along Route 66 from Tulsa International Airport to outside Verdigris High School to escort Farley's wife Shelli, 15-year-old daughter Hannah and Farley's parents to their home. They returned to Tulsa only two days after arriving in Ireland for a family vacation.
"Coming up here I said, 'It's such short notice. I'm afraid there won't be very many people,'" said Linda Larson, a relative of the Farleys. "But I think (the escort) will make Shelli and Hannah feel better. It's such a shock and everyone wants to support them as much as they can."
Larson and Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton said they were overwhelmed by the show of support, particularly since it was over Memorial Day weekend.
Walton said it's estimated that representatives of more than 100 public safety agencies were among those gathered to honor Farley. His funeral tentatively has been set for Saturday.
"It's very warming to know we have a community that will come out and support this family," Walton said. "It makes you glad to be a part of the emergency responder family."