Firefighter Laid to Rest

Firefighter William Grant was laid to rest today. It was a gloomy day but it did not stop people from crowding around on the opposite side of the cemetery to try to get a last glimpse of a hero. Grant was a 44 years old father of three and loving husband to Sharon Grant. Hundreds of friends, family and co workers showed to give there respects to the more than 20 year vet firefighter. According to reports Williams was on his way to a call Friday. He was riding in the rear cab of Ladder 51 with lights and siren on. Even with these warnings an empty school bus was unable to stop in time. It pushed the fire truck over to its side killing William Grant and injuring three other firefighters. The other Firefighters were Jerry Cambria, 48, Terrance McSwain, 37, and James Bigoness, 48.

The Funeral was at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home in Oak Lawn. Uniformed Firefighters came from as far as Milwaukee and Detroit to walk the long lines to give Grant a last salute."Billy Grant was a fireman's fireman: first in, last out," Fire Department chaplain Rev. Thomas Mulcrone said during the service. "He was always willing to volunteer and always waiting for the next fire."It took almost an hour for the casket to go from the funeral to the service.

There were services held at Christ the King Catholic Church in Beverly. Among the first to show were Grants family and the three other Firefighters injured Cambria, McSwain, and Bigoness. There were so many people that came most of them did not even make it into the church doors. There was Firefighters as far as you could see saluting as his widow watched. He was the first Chicago Firefighter to be killed in the line of duty since 2000.The other three firefighter stayed close to Sharon during most of the service. There was a 90 minute Mass were William Grant was remembered as a dedicated fireman and friend. It was his "second family" that was so close that they even used his childhood name "Billy" at the Fire Department.