Fire officials in Yakima have come together to honor the death of retired Captain Robert Burton. Burton died last year on Christmas Day, and today was his funeral.
Dozens of firefighters joined Burton's family at Stone Church in Yakima to say their final goodbyes.
Burton died on Christmas Day of last year due to complications from job-related cancer. He joined the Yakima Fire Department in 1984 and within his 27 years of service he held various titles such as lieutenant, captain and training captain. He retired in 2011, and during his years with the department is when he was diagnosed with melanoma cancer in 1997. Melanoma is unfortunately a type of cancer that is common within firefighters.
Burton fought cancer on and off since his 40's, and those who worked with him say he did not let it define him.