What started as a show of support by fellow firefighters for a fallen comrade will turn into a communitywide effort and fundraiser.

Pine Township firefighter Bradley Paul Holmes died March 5 from burns he suffered in a duplex fire at 132 Garden Ave., Grove City, on Feb. 29. Lt. Scott King suffered first- and third-degree burns on his face and arms.

More than 400 firefighters took part in a processional March 7 to honor Holmes, while more than 2,000 people attended the 21-year-old’s funeral the next day.

Many local firefighters expressed surprise over how many community members turned out to honor one of their fallen brethren.

“As we escorted Brad to his final resting place, we were simply in awe as the community lined the streets to offer their support,” Fire Chief Chris Holmes, Brad’s brother, wrote on the Pine Township Engine Co. Web site. “Those hundreds of people who braved the cold and snow brought warmth to our hearts and to the Holmes family.”

Aside from showing their support at the funeral, many community members have asked how they can further support the Pine Township Engine Co. and the families of Holmes and King.

They will be able to do so in a few weeks.

Several Pine Township firefighters, with the help of a few local businesses, are producing T-shirts and car decals honoring Holmes.

“My original idea was to do a design to put on decals for firefighters’ personal vehicles and local department fire trucks,” said Pine Township firefighter Chris Baer, who also is a captain in Jackson Center Fire Co.

Baer took his idea to Adam Coulson of Grove City Creative Images, who produced more than 3,000 decals free of charge.

According to Baer, the decals turned out great and many local firefighters put them on their vehicles. Since the response was so positive, Baer decided that the design would look great on a T-shirt.

Chris Ithen of Ithen Printing Services agreed to produce the shirts.

“It’s amazing what these volunteers do and it can’t be appreciated enough,” he said. “It’s a lot easier to print T-shirts than put out fires.”

Ithen said he donated more than 300 shirts.

Baer gave them to Pine Township firefighters and handed out shirts and decals to members of other local fire departments that have supported Pine Township volunteers in their loss.