Hundreds of people, many of whom were firefighters from across the state, attended the funeral of Olla Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Joe Thompson last Tuesday, June 6. The sanctuary of Olla First Baptist Church was filled to capacity for the two-hour service where dignitaries from throughout the firefighting community spoke of Thompson and his life. Thompson died Friday, June 2, while at one of the Olla Fire Stations. Although his death was not work-related, he was at the station when he died, most likely due to complications from cancer that he’d been battling for nearly two years. During the funeral, Louisiana State Fire Marshal Dan Wallis noted that since he has been in the fire service industry some 45 years, there are only a few men that he has known that leave a mark like Chief Thompson. “My wife asked me if I was going to write something down for my remarks today,” Wallis said. “I told her I didn’t have to. When it comes to Joe, I can speak straight from my heart.”