Kennewick procession to honor longtime firefighter who died after his 9-11 work

A Kennewick firefighter who died of a 9-11-related cancer is being remembered with a funeral procession Saturday.

The line-of-duty death with honors funeral for retired firefighter Steve Bailie starts at 9:50 a.m. Saturday at Kennewick Fire Station 1, 600 Auburn St., with a flag lowering ceremony.

Then 30 fire department vehicles will travel to Bailie’s grave near the intersection of 14th Avenue and Union Street starting at 10:10 a.m.

Along the way, the procession will travel on Dayton Street, Kennewick Avenue and Union Street.

Bailie’s family and the Kennewick Fire Department are encouraging the public to pay their respects as fire vehicles pass.

The retired firefighter died July 17 from a rare blood cancer tied to his work during the World Trade Center recovery efforts in 2001.

He was one of a group of Tri-Cities firefighters who traveled to New York to help following the terrorist attacks.

His death is considered to be in the line of duty because of the direct tie to his work during that emergency.

“The procession is a normal and very somber part of the tradition of honoring fire service members and specifically him and his family for his many years of service to the community and the fire service,” said the Kennewick Fire Department.

He worked for Kennewick for 33 years. He also worked at Franklin County Fire District 3 during his early years, as well as for Benton County Fire District 1.

This story was originally published September 10, 2020 at 2:05 PM.