Local firefighters head east to plan funeral for fallen firefighters

KENT, Wash. -- A team of firefighters from Kent are headed to Wenatchee to help plan a funeral for heroes.

Andrew Zajac, Richard Wheeler, and Tom Zbyszewski were killed when they were overrun by flames as they fought wildfire near Twisp.

It’s going to take another week to plan their funeral, expected to be attended by thousands of people.

“We are proud of him and all that he's done. And we're spending these days together as one family just trying to make it from breath to breath,” Andrew’s Mom Mary said on a video message Sunday.

While the Zajacs grieve, help they didn’t even ask for is on the way.

“We know what you're going through and we're going to help you get through this,” Kent Fire Captain Kyle Ohashi said.

Captain Ohashi along with three other firefighters are headed east as a part of the Local Assistant State Team. Their one goal: plan a hero’s funeral.

“They’re often times at a loss of what to do. They’re emotionally involved so sometimes they just need someone who's got little more objective view point that can come in with expertise in dealing with these things and supporting their department,” Captain Ohashi added.

It’s that kind of support helping the Zajacs cope.

“Just want to say thank you to everyone who is giving us so much love and support in this time. I can't imagine it without it,” Andrew’s wife Jennifer managed Sunday. “It's going to be long -- we're not anywhere close to having everything wrapped up, so stay safe, keep focused and please everybody come home that's all really want is everybody home.”

The funeral is expected to be next week. The date and time have not been determined yet.