Community gathers in Camden, New Jersey to honor fallen firefighter Howard Bennett

CAMDEN, NJ (WPVI) -- Hundreds of firefighters, friends and family members gathered at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden to honor veteran firefighter Howard Bennett, whose life and service were remembered during a celebration of life attended by people from across the region.

Organizers chose the waterfront venue to accommodate the large crowd that wanted to pay their respects to Bennett, who died on the job last week.

Bagpipes played as Bennett's body was transported by firetruck to the service, marking a solemn tribute to the longtime Camden firefighter.

"He was Mr. Fixit. He was that guy. He would always give you the shirt off his back to help you out as much as he possibly can. He wasn't a guy who wanted a whole lot," said Camden Fire Chief Jesse Flax.

Colleagues described Bennett as humble, private and dedicated.

He served with the Camden Fire Department for nearly 27 years.

Officials said Bennett died Thursday while performing maintenance on a fire boat. He fell into the icy Delaware River, and rescue crews took 30 minutes to recover his body from the frozen water.

On the morning of the service, Bennett's body was escorted from his hometown of Maple Shade to Camden. At times, people lined the streets along the route to pay their respects as the procession passed.

"Partners from around the community have come together to support the family, support the city," Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen said.

Local officials, Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Bennett's wife spoke during the service, reflecting on his dedication and years of service.

Flax said Bennett's impact extended beyond the city where he worked.

"Howard was a wonderful man. He was loved by a lot of different people," Flax said. "But the community where he lived made it a point to say that we need to come. We want to come. His whole family is big in the community of Maple Shade. They all came out and that's why we picked this venue. There were a lot of people that wanted to come out and show their support."

Bennett was given the title of captain posthumously.

The incident remains under investigation by the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. His death has been ruled an accident.

Gov. Sherrill has ordered that flags in the state be flown at half-staff in his honor.