The body of a firefighter who died of a cardiac emergency while battling a blaze in Montana was transported to Spokane over the weekend in a procession that spanned nearly 400 miles.
Ruben Gonzalez Romero was stationed on the Bivens Creek fire burning more than 3,000 acres just 15 miles from Virginia City, Montana. Romero had 20 years of experience as a firefighter and sawyer, according to a news release from Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 6.
Romero was “actively involved” in fire suppression when he suffered from a cardiac emergency and died at the scene, the release said. Firefighters took Romero from the fire to Whitehall, Montana, from where he was transported in a procession Monday to Spokane. Firefighters from across the region came to the highway to honor Romero as the procession passed…