Family, friends and community members paid their final respects to a longtime volunteer firefighter who died in the line of duty in Thurston County.
“John was an amazing guy,” said Chief Warren Peterson, with the East Olympia Fire District.
Capt. John Ostergard was a 27-year volunteer with the department. He suffered a medical emergency while fighting a fire in Yelm on Dec. 14. He died a couple of days later.
He was 63 years old.
Scroll down to continue reading
More news from KIRO 7
- Seattle resident creates bait packages to stop porch pirates
- Snoqualmie Pass closed after multiple crashes, including one fatality
- Seattle father arrested for locking 5-year-old son in 'wooden box'
- 32-year-old accused of posing as 15-year-old homeless student to enroll in high school
- Do you have an investigative story tip? Send us an email at investigate@kiro7.com
“Lost someone who is almost irreplaceable, basically irreplaceable,” Peterson added.
The funeral procession was made up of about 100 fire engines. It started at Fire Station 61 and wound its way through Thurston County where members of the community lined up to say goodbye.
“My dad was a police officer and, anyway, I just wanted to pay my respect,” said community member Pete York.
Ostergard also worked as a heating and air conditioning technician.
In his nearly three decades of service to the department, Peterson described Ostergard as a devoted firefighter, an agent of change who was always willing to adapt and learn and a mentor to hundreds of young firefighters over the years.
He was also the president of the Washington State Firefighter's Association.
“It's very difficult to volunteer and make the commitment he made. And the folks like that are very few and far between. A huge gap that will [be] difficult to fill,” Peterson said.
Ostergard's flag-draped casket then arrived at Mountain View Church of the Nazarene in Tumwater for a memorial service.
“To me his legacy is one of service. So we tell folks to honor John, be willing to be of service because he was certainly willing to step up and do that if he saw a need,” explained Peterson.
The Ostergard family also released this statement:
"The Ostergard family is eternally grateful for the outpouring of support we have received from East Olympia Fire District 6, the Washington State FireFighters' Association, the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation, area fire departments, and their members too numerous to list. You have all helped care for us and guide us through this difficult time in more ways than we could have possibly imagined. More importantly, you have shown through word and deed how much you all loved and respected John as a man and a brother firefighter. Your strength gives us courage."
Cox Media Group