SACKETS HARBOR -- Twenty six year old Assistant Fire Chief, Garrett Loomis died Sunday in Sackets Harbor after a silo fire. The silo exploded while Loomis was on it. Loomis was well known, to his fellow community members who are all mourning him
The scene in Sackets Harbor is almost silent a day after a fire and then an explosion blew apart this silo and killed the young firefighter.
Assistant Fire Chief for the Fort Drum Fire department, Jason Brunet said, "Garret was young, he was energetic, one of the firefighters that didn't need to be be told to do something. He did it and then came to say what else can I do for you."
Loomis was a career firefighter with the Fort Drum Fire Department, but Sunday he was volunteering with the Sackets Harbor fire department. His fellow firefighters say, right now, they're struggling.
"I don't think I have another tear to shed. It's been absolutely horrible, the worst of the worst we can deal with here in the fire service," said Brunet.
While the Sackets Harbor and Fort Drum Fire Departments are in mourning, the family who ownes the farm says they feel like they've lost a member of their family too.
Jay Matteson is the Jefferson County Agriculture Coordinator. He's also the spokes person for the Robins family who owns the farm. He said, "It's an extremely difficult time for them. The firefighter that died was a close personal friend of family, best friends with their son, and spent a lot of time here on the farm."
A fire at the North Shore Dairy Farm last week killed a hundred cattle and destroyed a barn right next to the silo.
"They were really hurting from that and then when this happened yesterday morning, this really ripped their hearts out. There's no other way to put it."
In their grief, the people in this small community are pulling together to remember the good times.
Brunet said, "As you see the pictures of Garrett throughout the community, he always had a smile, a big smile, and that most definitely will be how I will remember him."
They say he's someone they'll never forget.
A memorial service for Loomis will be held at 1pm, Thursday, April 15 at the Sackets Harbor Central School. There will be no calling hours.
Click here to see earlier CNYCentral.com coverage of this story.
