Park City firefighters honored the family of their former Chief Paul Hewitt on Sunday after he passed away last week.
Hewitt was chief of the Park City Fire District of 10 years. He died at age 58 on Friday from injuries suffered in an accident while on vacation in Oregon with family.
His family drove home in an RV over the weekend. Park City firefighters met them at the base of Parley’s Canyon to escort them to their house with fire engines on Sunday.
Summit County Sheriff’s deputies and Park City police officers joined the procession on city roads. Bystanders lined the roads as they reached the Park City area.
Firefighters from Salt Lake City also attended and parked vehicles along the route. Before Park City, Hewitt was with Salt Lake City Fire for 20 years.
says it was a way to pay respects to his former chief and the Hewitt family.
“I think it was a fitting gesture for a great man, really just showing how important Chief Hewitt was not only to this organization but this community," Battalion Chief Peter Emery said. "We’ve had a lot of support from the whole community, and it is much appreciated.”
The procession went to the Hewitt home, where an honor guard and fire district staff in uniform lined up to usher the family through their door.
A memorial for Hewitt will be held Thursday evening at 5:30 at the Eccles Center.
