The town of Clayton is hosting a day of remembrance for Deputy Fire Chief Jason Dean, who died from COVID-19 complications last week.
Clayton officials say the town's fire department "essentially planned the biggest parade in town history" to remember their fallen colleague on Monday. The parade featured a 13-mile procession of fire and emergency vehicles. More than 500 firefighters and first responders from across the state attended, bringing hundreds of fire trucks and emergency vehicles. The town's fire team sounded a ceremonial old fire siren Friday morning in honor of Dean, who battled COVID-19 for more than a month.
"It has been horrible," said Stacy Rose, who said she works with Jason's wife. "And we really thought that everything was going to be fine and it's not. So we're here to support her and be there for her after this is all over."