Brotherhood of firefighters rally around New Carlisle

NEW CARLISLE, Ind. -- As the New Carlisle Fire Department mourns, fire crews from all over Michiana are stepping in to help their brothers.



“Nobody ever goes to work, planning to not come home,” said Clay Fire Captain Andrew Roberts.



But when the unexpected happens, these guys know how to show support. They're helping New Carlisle Fire Department somehow put back the pieces after losing one of their own.



“A lot of departments across St. Joe County have come together to provide assistance for the New Carlisle Fire Department and the town of New Carlisle while they’re in mourning and taking care of what they need to take care of,” says Robert Wood, Battalion Chief of Clay Fire Department.



Chief Wood started off as a volunteer just like Assistant Chief Jamie Middlebrook.



“It takes a special person to be a volunteer," said Wood.

He says they're considered special because on top of their day jobs and family duties, they risk their lives to protect their community.



“When somebody loses their life, purely trying to help out their community, that’s a true tragedy,” said Roberts.



Roberts says this loss has put everything into perspective.



“This could happen to any of us at any time," said Roberts.  “One of the ways that we cope is reaching out and helping each other,” says Roberts.



Multiple departments are helping cover the New Carlisle Fire Department while they grieve and prepare for the funeral. The departments include Clay Fire, South Bend Fire, Mishawaka Fire, Notre Dame Fire, Warren Township and Penn Township.



“If something happened at my fire department, I guarantee people from New Carlisle would be doing the same thing,” said Wood.



Firefighters are part of a brotherhood.



“It doesn’t matter what state you’re from, you’re all a brotherhood," saidChief Wood.



The other departments will be helping out New Carlisle well into next week.