FEDERAL Way, Wash. -- He was a firefighter and a fitness buff, but he died in the line of duty by way of cancer.

On Tuesday dozens gathered in Federal Way to honor Marty Hauer who succumbed to cancer. He was a picture of health and the fitness expert with the Kent Fire Department, but he could not fight off cancer of the thyroid gland known as Thymic Carcinoma.

Hauer's death is being considered a death in the line of duty due to the toxic environment firefighters are exposed to while fighting fires.

A procession of 50 fire and emergency rigs from all over the Northwest escorted Hauer's ashes. For ten minutes the procession traveled along Highway 18.

It is the tradition with deaths in the emergency services that all departments send a crew along to pay tribute.

One of the toughest challenges for the fellow firefighters was to see the faces of the family left behind. Hauer's 10-year-old son Colton led the way, followed by Hauer's wife Kris and daughter Rylee.

"Every one here is looking for answers. How could such a physically-fit man survive the fire fights but be taken down by cancer?" said friend Brad Taylor during the memorial service.

Hauer helped put out a number of toxic fires fought during his15-year career, including the Chem Central fire of 1999.

"However it happened, this is a death in the line of duty - the first in Kent in 30 years," said Chief Jim Schneider.

Tuesday's was not Hauer's final journey. That will come this summer when his family takes his remains on his dying wish -- a trip through Glacier National Park.