Firefighters are preparing to lay another firefighter to rest.
A procession of fire trucks led fallen Oxford fire Chief Gary Sacco from Maine Medical Center in Portland to Fortin’s Funeral Home in Lewiston on Monday morning.
Sacco died Sunday of an unknown medical problem while attending the funeral for fallen Berwick fire Capt. Joel Barnes.
Oxford’s deputy fire chief, Shawn Cordwell, said the entire department was devastated and stunned after the sudden passing of Sacco.
“The fire service community is a true brother and sisterhood, and to have lost one brother, and to be celebrating his life, and then to have another was devastating,” Cordwell said.
The 63-year-old Sacco had been the fire chief in Oxford since June 2017. Before that, he served in the New Gloucester Fire Department until he retired in October 2015 after 12 years of service.
Maine Medical Center officials said Sacco passed away not long after being admitted.
Cordwell said he rushed there when he heard the news.
“We do this job every day and we are usually on that end of the resuscitation to try to revive someone and to be on the other side of the fence is heartbreaking and a very helpless feeling,” Cordwell said.
He said Sacco was a firefighter and mentor who will be greatly missed.
“He was constantly studying fires, learning from fires and then an incredible mentor to pass that knowledge onto us,” Cordwell said. “So that, God forbid this day occurred, he would’ve left us with the knowledge that he had gained.”
The Oxford Fire Department said funeral arrangements are still be coordinated with the Sacco family.