LEESBURG, Va. — Thousands of people gathered in Leesburg Monday to celebrate the life of a Sterling volunteer firefighter killed in a house explosion.
Loudoun County officials said they expected more than 3,500 people to attend the funeral for 45-year-old Trevor Brown at Cornerstone Chapel. Most of the attendees were first responders from different departments across the DMV.
“It's humbling to all of us to get the support from the region and country in honoring our fallen brother and firefighter,” Loudoun County Fire & Rescue Assistant Chief of Operations James Williams said.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-Virginia) gave remarks during the celebration of life service, and helped deliver the folded U.S. flag to Brown’s wife.
“Trevor had this rare heart and soul,” Youngkin said. “This immense love for selfless service. There’s a road less traveled where at every turn conviction leads. Trevor chose that road and path.”
Brown died after responding to a gas leak from an underground propane tank. Officials said as the gas leaked into the home, it exploded with firefighters inside. The incident happened on Silver Ridge Drive after 7 p.m. on Feb. 16.
“Trevor’s heroics have changed things for all of us and all first responders, everywhere,” Sterling Volunteer Fire Company Chaplain John Boyle said.
The fallen firefighter's father, Thomas Brown, remembered his son as someone who had a unique humor and cherished his wife and three children. Trevor Brown’s three kids also received teddy bears with a picture of him during the service.
“Our love is with you, Trevor, and you'll be missed immensely and never forgotten,” Thomas Brown said.
Trevor Brown was known to enjoy the outdoors, cook BBQ and coach youth sports teams.
Sterling Volunteer Fire Company Chief David Short also read an entry from Trevor Brown’s journal that said, “I see volunteering as a good way to get back in the community and I hope to have a positive impact on at least one person's life.”
“To Trevor, I say, 'mission accomplished,'" Short concluded.
Loudoun County Fire & Rescue Assistant Chief of Support Services Travis Preau said as much as it took a village to put together the service, the same support is needed to help the fire departments move forward.
Multiple other firefighters were injured in the explosion. Only one remains at the hospital, according to fire officials.
Loudoun First Responders Foundation President Tina Johnson said donations have been overwhelming. Although she couldn’t say exactly how much money was raised, she said there’s enough to support Trevor Brown’s family and the injured firefighters.
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