The off-duty firefighter killed when his motorcycle collided with a large black bear on Highway 26 came home in a silent procession of local emergency vehicles, Monday. Bend Fire Battalion Chief Dave Howe says it's an honor typically reserved for firefighters killed in the line of duty, "But, he’s an active member of a fire department – a member in good standing. So, there are certain honors that go with that."
Rhett Larsen died Saturday in Wasco County. As the large string of cars and trucks from Bend Fire, Bend Police, the city of Bend, Oregon State Police, Redmond Fire and others made the trip from The Dalles to Bend, they were greeted by members of other police and fire agencies lining portions of the route and drove under a large American flag draped from the overpass at Deschutes Junction.