Mourners gathered Wednesday afternoon to their pay respects to a firefighter who died in the line of duty last week.
"Tomorrow I'm going to have to carry my brother's body to his grave, but I'm going to have over 4,000 brothers and sisters right there with me," Capt. Herbert Johnson's brother, Teddy Johnson, said outside St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel.
The 54-year-old died Friday after responding to a house fire in the 2300 block of West 50th Place. The fire caused the roof of the wood-framed structure to collapse. Johnson was pulled from the wreckage and later died in a local hospital due to smoke inhalation.
An American flag flutters from two fire trucks that extended outside the chapel. A variety of emergency responders and congregation members from Johnson's St. Cajetan Parish were on hand for the visitation.
Johnson's funeral mass will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Rita's. The service is open but there are just a few seats available.
A remembrance page for Johnson has been set up on Facebook.
