Firefighters hike Camelback Mountain to pay tribute to fallen fire captain

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - The hike this morning honoring fallen Tempe Fire Capt. Kyle Brayer was fitting because everyone who knew him knew how much he loved to climb Camelback Mountain.

"Kyle used to hike this thing all the time," Capt. Scott Williams said. "He's carry 50-pound sacks of sand to the top of this thing and he'd bring his crew out here on their day off."

This morning, about 60 members of Local 493, firefighters from Tempe, Phoenix, Chandler, Peoria and Glendale, hiked Camelback Mountain.

Some carried bags of sand just like Tempe Fire Capt. Kyle Brayer used to.

"It's a nice way to remember him and just to think about Kyle who was a friend to a lot of us," one firefighter said.

Brayer was shot to death in the early-morning hours of February 4 after an altercation in Old Town Scottsdale. The suspect eventually turned himself in and has been charged with second-degree murder.

SkyFOX was over the scene when the group made it to the top. It was a breathtaking tribute as they proudly displayed Capt. Brayer's photo alongside a large American flag.

Other hikers could help but notice the comradery.

"I thought it was great, we stayed up there a little longer because of this," one hiker said.

"(I) just always had a ton of respect for the guy, glad to be here for him, wish we didn't have to," Capt. Williams said.

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