Procession honors fallen firefighter

CAPT. BRIAN HUGHES
JOHN BURNETT/Tribune-Herald A National Park Service fire truck passes NPS firefighters from Northern California lining the procession route on Kamehameha Avenue Sunday to pay respects for fallen NPS firefighter Brian Hughes.

Dozens of local and federal firefighters and other emergency responders gathered Sunday on the Hilo Bayfront to pay respect to a fallen brother — Brian Hughes, a Hilo native and captain of the Arrowhead Interagency Hotshots based in Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. Hughes died on the fire line July 29, two days shy of his 34th birthday.