Thousands attend fallen Oklahoma firefighter's funeral

CHICKASHA, Okla. (AP) -- Up to 3,000 people from across the state and as far away as New York were in Chickasha for the funeral for volunteer firefighter Destry Horton.<br/><br/>Horton died last Friday

Thursday, March 30th 2006, 1:17 pm

By: News On 6

CHICKASHA, Okla. (AP) -- Up to 3,000 people from across the state and as far away as New York were in Chickasha for the funeral for volunteer firefighter Destry Horton.

Horton died last Friday after being burned while fighting a wildfire earlier this month in Stephens County.

Fire, ambulance and law enforcement officials from across Oklahoma were on hand.

Captain Jeremiah Hoffstatter of the Ripley Fire Department says he and a volunteer fire crew drove two hours to show their respect.

And firefighter Richard Schmidt came from Rescue Company Number 4 in the Bronx borough of New York. Schmidt says he can relate to the firefighters who worked with Horton because his department lost 9 in the 9-11 terror attacks.