Worst day of my life: We lost it all” The chief of pigeon forge fire department Tony Watson Cries like a baby” after 19-years old boy died in an off duty” here are his sorrowful message…
WATE: PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. Following the death of their own member, 19-year-old Aaron Huss, in an off-duty motorcycle accident last week, the Pigeon Forge Fire Department is in grief. Tony Watson, the chief of the Pigeon Forge Fire Department, stated that Huss left an enduring impression on the department during his year there. “Despite his brief tenure with us, he left a lasting impression, and we will never be able to replace him.” However, we’re going to make every effort to pay tribute to him here,” Watson stated.
“He would leave his shift and go home and he would pray about the victims he’s dealt with, that just tells you about his character and his care right there,” Watson said. “He had such a bright future, but the good Lord had a different plan for us. And, you know, we’re just trying to honor him, his family, and we’re trying to get our department back to operational status.”
Watson said week following Huss’s death has been difficult for him and his department but neighboring first responders have supported them through it.
We’ve been through every emotion known to man and this week, and so it’s been a hard week,” Watson said. “But that’s where we count on our brothers and sisters to support us and get us back in the right fashion.”
Emergency vehicles from all across the area showed up in a procession to Huss’s final resting place as a way to celebrate his life and community service.
It’s the first time the Pigeon Forge Fire and Rescue has been entirely out of service in my tenure as fire chief, Watson said. “However, our district is being covered by the City of Sevierville, the City of Gatlinburg, Sevier County, and other volunteer organizations so we can grieve the loss of our wonderful firefighter.”
It’s not about us. It’s about him and it’s about that family. So, we’ve kept that in the front of our minds,” said Watson. “I can’t say enough, there is departments here all-over East Tennessee, that are supporting us today. The honor guard from Johnson City, Greenville, Alcoa, Maryville, Sevier Fire Department all down there so that we can mourn the loss of a great young man.”
