Armando and Dianne Garcia, of Newtown, didn't know Assistant Fire Chief Peter Blomberg, of Botsford Fire Rescue, one of five volunteer fire departments in Newtown -- but they said that didn't matter.

The couple joined other local residents in watching the 72-year-old's funeral procession pass down Main Street Tuesday night.

"What mattered to us was paying our respects to him, because he devoted his life to serving and protecting our community," Mr. Garcia said.

Blomberg was killed after being hit by a pickup truck while on his way to a fire commissioners meeting Monday night.

Mrs. Garcia said Newtown is "a small community - the kind of place where everyone is your neighbor."

"We watched the funeral procession go by from a respectful distance, just to say we love you and we support you and we're praying for your family," Mr. Garcia said.