Mourners lined the streets of Clinton on Sunday as the procession transporting the body of 33-year-old fire Lt. Eric Hosette rolled through town. He died Saturday while fighting a fire at the ADM grain facility in Clinton. Another firefighter, 23-year-old Adam Cain, was injured.
Judy Schaley said she stood on a street corner to show the firefighters she is grateful for the work they do for the community.
“It hits home when you lose someone so special in the community,” Schaley said.
Mike Henshaw and his 5-year-old daughter, Nerissa Clark, also wanted to watch the hearse return Hosette’s body to the fire station.
“We’re here to show our respect,” Henshaw said. “She wants to be a firefighter.”
Hosette was a 12-year veteran of the Clinton fire department and he was elected in December to serve as chief of the volunteer fire department in Charlotte, about 20 miles northwest of Clinton.
There was an explosion during the fire on Saturday and officials have said that’s when Hosette and Cain were hurt. Cain remained hospitalized Monday in Iowa City, but details of his condition were not released.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
