BELFAST — A Morrill Volunteer Fire Department truck sat quietly in front of a funeral home, shimmering in the sunlight. An American flag at half-staff just beyond it fluttered every so often in the occasional breeze.

Over the course of three hours Thursday evening, hundreds of first responders and civilians paid their respects to Andrew Cross, 27, who died in the line of duty last Friday during the tragic fire and explosion at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont.

The line into Riposta Funeral Home for the public visitation consistently snaked outside and through the driveway.

Members of the public were shuttled from the nearby Belfast Area High School, from which Cross graduated. First responders packed school buses at the nearby middle school and arrived in droves.

In their formal attire, many firefighters bore crests on their shoulders of nearby communities, some hailing from fire departments that battled the blaze at Robbins Lumber that day.

Others came from towns and cities over 100 miles away.

“A large amount of people who showed up tonight didn’t really know him,” Augusta Fire Chief Dave Groder told reporters on Thursday. “They always call it a brotherhood or a sisterhood … People just feel indebted, but they need to show their appreciation for his service and dedication.”

Cross’ friends have described him as a “wicked happy guy” with a big smile who was quick to help others. While serving his community as a volunteer firefighter, Cross also worked as a machinist at Bath Iron Works and as a landscaper who plowed his community’s roads. He enjoyed spending time hunting, fishing and snowmobiling, as well as visiting camp in Bingham and at Madagascal Pond in Burlington, according to his obituary.

While the sun was warm and birds were chirping on Thursday, solemn handshakes and hugs were exchanged.

For first responders, it was a sobering reminder of the risks they take every day.

“We kiss our significant others goodbye in the morning as we’re off to work and with the full expectation we’re coming home that night,” Groder said Thursday. “Whether you’re a volunteer or you’re a full-timer, it doesn’t matter. We all go to the same job and we’re all hoping to get back.”

But it’s important for the public to acknowledge the stakes, the Augusta chief said.

“For communities to understand that your neighbor could be that responder that is going to be sacrificing his life or her life for you is huge,” Groder said.

And first responders will continue to answer the call, the chief said, because “that’s the way we are, but they’ll always carry the courage of Cross and their other fallen comrades with them.

“Keep it in our hearts, in our heads, and we just carry on,” he said.