By Dennis Box-The Courier-Herald

East Pierce Fire and Rescue Fire Chief Dan Packer was laid to rest Thursday at the Sumner Cemetery following a memorial service at the Christian Faith Center in Federal Way.

A procession of nearly 200 fire and emergency vehicles, about 160 firefighter units, 26 units from East Pierce and more than 60 police officers traveled from the Puyallup Fair grounds to the Federal Way church.

Before the procession, the chief’s casket was placed on an East Pierce fire engine. Police motorcycles led the fire engine past the Public Safety Building in Bonney Lake.

More than 150 East Pierce firefighters and staff lined the sidewalk along Sumner-Buckley Highway as Packer made his final pass in front of the fire station where he had been chief for the past 18 years.

Packer died July 26 while scouting a wildfire at the Panther Fire south of Happy Camp in Siskiyou County in northern California. The 49-year-old chief was preparing to assume the duties of division supervisor.

At the church service, the chief’s casket was led into the church by the Seattle Firefighters Pipes and Drums band between lines of 100 honor guards standing at attention.

The service was preside over by Pastor Jerry McClain and speakers included Gov. Chris Gregoire, East Pierce interim Fire Chief John McDonald and Katrina Packer, the chief’s daughter.

“His passing was a shock,” Katrina Packer said. “But we are comforted knowing he gave his life in service. If he had to chose to go, he wouldn’t have have chosen any other way. He believe in us. We didn’t just love our dad; we admired him and because of him, none of us will ever be the same.”

The governor told the gathering Packer was a “visionary and doer. He built East Pierce Fire and Rescue into what it is today.”

McDonald described the chief as a man who “always thought big thoughts. He loved being a firefighter, but there was no greater love in his life than his family.”

The interim chief ended his memorial of his longtime friend and colleague with a heartfelt sendoff, “Let me wish you Godspeed, good friend, Godspeed.”

The service came to a conclusion with a presentation of Packer’s four helmets to his four daughters marking the progression of his career from firefighter,lieutenant, battalion chief to fire chief.

The final alarm was sounded, marking the death of the chief and the dispatch recording stated, “He will be missed, but never forgotten.”

The Pipe and Drum band played “Amazing Grace” and the casket was taken from the sanctuary for a private service at the Sumner Cemetery.

Reach Dennis Box at dbox@courierherald.com or 360-802-8209.