NEWTOWN, Conn. — Newtown's Botsford Fire Rescue held a funeral service and burial Monday for fallen Assistant Fire Chief Pete Blomberg.
Blomberg was hit and killed by a pickup truck at 6:15 p.m. on Oct. 28 while crossing Church Hill Road in Newtown to attend a fire commission meeting, BFR said.
In addition to being an assistant fire chief, Blomberg was also a former custodian at Newtown Middle School, a finish carpenter, a certified State Fire Instructor, a father and a grandfather. A public memo from BFR also describes him as a "great storyteller," a "lover of rock music," a "Harley Davidson enthusiast" and a "devoted friend."
The crash happened just hours after the first responder community laid fallen firefighter Robert Sharkevich Sr. to rest, who was killed in a utility vehicle rollover crash while fighting the brush fire on Lamentation Mountain in Berlin.
Blomberg's funeral was held on Monday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church on 46 Church Hill Road in Newtown.
Bethel Volunteer Fire Department Captain Matthew Troy said, "It's been a really tough couple of weeks for the Connecticut fire service."
Firefighters who paid their respects to Blomberg Monday said it's too familiar of a feeling to lay another first responder to rest.
Despite the challenging month for firefighters in Connecticut, a large showing of support made their presence clear for Blomberg and the Botsford team.
"We have a very tight relationship with Botsford and Assistant Fire Chief Blomberg was a critical part of that," said Jason Mangini, president of the Morris Fire Company. "The community both near and far is very tied together and we support each other through all of this."
His burial followed the funeral, taking place at St. Rose Cemetery in Sandy Hook.
"Catholic internment will be followed by firematic graveside service," BFR said. "The procession escort from the church to the cemetery will include Newtown apparatus only."
The full public memo on Facebook from BFR, released after Blomberg's death, can be read in the post below:
Blomberg's wake was held Sunday evening at the at the Honan Funeral Home in Newtown.
Gov. Ned Lamont announced Friday afternoon that all U.S. and state flags will be lowered to half-staff beginning Monday, Nov. 4 from sunrise to sunset in honor of Blomberg.
Based on a preliminary investigation, police said that a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck was traveling east on Church Hill Road at the time of the crash when it hit Blomberg. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash to contact Det. Chelsea Harold at 203-426-5841.
Sean Humphrey is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at shumphrey@fox61.com.
Lindsey Kane is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at Lkane@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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