TACOMA, Wash. -- An emotional and heartbreaking homecoming Wednesday afternoon as the body of Chief Dan Packer of East Pierce Fire & Rescue arrives back in western Washington.

Firefighters, police officers and friends gathered to show their support to Chief Packer who was killed fighting the wildfires in California last week.

To honor the chief, his body was placed in an ambulance and a motorcade led the procession towards a Puyallup Funeral home.

Tacoma police officers joined University Place firefighters on an overpass to salute the motorcade as it came over the Narrows Bridge.

“Chief packer was well respected in the community and around the state, and to lose a great man like that is unfortunate," said Tim LaRue of the University Place Fire Department.

Melody Steimle also came to the overpass. Her brother-in-law is a firefighter in the motorcade returning Packer home.

"Chief Packer has been a hero and a mentor. He's been so impressed with him and he's had a positive influence in his life," Steimle said.

A public memorial service for Chief Packer will be held at 2 p.m. next Thursday at the Christian Faith Center in Federal Way.