The Wellsville community is grieving with the loss of Fire Captain Jeff Moore, who died on Aug. 3 at age 65.

Moore was killed in a two-tractor crash that occurred on Interstate 70 between High Hill and Jonesburg. He worked for the Wellsville Fire Protection District for 34 years.

“It was just a terrible tragedy,” Fire Chief Richard Wilson said.

On Aug. 4, a procession was held between Montgomery City and Wellsville in honor of Moore. There were 15 vehicles in the procession, which started at Schlanker Funeral Home.

“It was pretty moving to watch people line the streets,” Wilson said. “It was more than I expected. I expected two fire trucks and a couple of police cars.”

Fire departments from communities such as Montgomery City and New Florence joined the procession. Brian Maskey, who is a fire board member and treasurer, made the arrangements.

“The relationship with the other departments was tremendous, which was on display (on Aug. 3),” Wilson said. “As soon as they heard us, they got into their fire trucks and headed this way. Some of them went all the way to Mexico and some of them turned around to Martinsburg. They had to get back to provide their own protection. We had the ambulance in service and we had the conservation agent. We worked together so close, it was unbelievable.”

A 1979 graduate of Wellsville-Middletown High School, Moore joined the fire department in 1992. He became captain eight years later.

“Anytime the whistle went off, he showed up,” Wilson said. “If he was in town, he was going to be there.”

Wilson said in the early 2000s, Moore wrote a grant that helped the fire department get a 3,000-gallon tanker. The grant was over $300,000.

“It took several years of rejection,” Wilson said. “He never gave up.”

Wilson said Moore was also part of Montgomery County’s first class of first responders.

“The first responder program hasn’t always been in effect,” Wilson said. “It didn’t start until 1993. Prior to 1993, we didn’t have a first-responder program. We had a fire program. He was in one of the first EMT classes.”

Moore was the third longest-tenured member of the Wellsville fire department. Wilson is the longest-tenured member at 52 years and Mike Arens has the second-longest tenure.

Moore was part of a small fire department that included his son, Kelby.

“The dedication of the volunteer fireman is beyond being able to explain,” Wilson said. “They get absolutely zero pay. They leave work. They lose money when they leave work. They use their own gas. It takes a lot of dedication to be a fireman.”

Wilson said Moore’s last call was in volunteer service. He worked at the tractor pull event at the Montgomery County Fair on July 24.

“He brought his truck down,” Wilson said. “He and his son sat together and provided fire service for the Montgomery County Fair.”

Wilson said there is no timetable on when a new fire captain will be made.

“It will be my decision, but I’m not going to do it for a while,” Wilson said.

A celebration of life for Moore was held on Aug. 10 at the Grace Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall in Wellsville.