IRMO, S.C. — The funeral arrangements for James Muller, the firefighter who died while battling a large fire at a Columbia apartment complex, have been released.
Muller's funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at Riverland Hills Baptist Church located at 201 Lake Murray Blvd. in Irmo. A private interment will follow and family will receive friends after the service.
Muller died while assisting the Columbia Fire Department as it was responding to an apartment fire on Stonebridge Drive. According to Columbia Fire, Muller died following a structure collapse when he was inside the building.
Seven other firefighters - five from Columbia and one other from Irmo - were hurt in the incident, which displaced 19 people.
In the days that followed, Muller's actions have been credited with helping save the residents, putting his own life on the line in the process.
But in a press conference on Sunday, Chief Mike Sonefeld and Assistant Chief Sloane Valentino described him as a model firefighter, a man who could inspire others.
"You couldn't help but absorb it when you worked with him," Valentino said. "He made me a better firefighter."
And, according to Sonefeld, his positivity was infectious.
"He was probably the most positive, passionate firefighter I've seen in my 40 years of doing this," he said.
Since the tragedy unfolded on Friday, tributes have poured in from all directions with one of the most impactful being when Muller's body was transported to an area funeral home on Sunday morning. There, the roads in Columbia, Lexington, and points in between were lined with members of his extended emergency response and law enforcement families.
It was a point of pride in a time of sadness that briefly brought a tear to Chief Sonefeld's eyes when he spoke of it on Sunday afternoon.
"We had a procession this morning and what we saw from the public - absolutely amazing," he said.
A small procession, including the Muller family, Irmo Fire District, including Irmo Fire District’s Engine 171-that Firefighter Muller was assigned to, will be transporting Muller ahead of the funeral service, with law enforcement agencies providing escort.
The Procession, which will start at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home's Lexington Chapel and will end at Riverland Hills Baptist Church, will take the following route.
The community is welcome to stand-along in a safe location along the procession route to pay their respects, according to the South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association.
The family is asking all non-fire personnel attending the funeral wear colorful attire as a tribute.
As for community members who still wish to pay tribute to Muller and honor his family, they can share condolences and sympathy at the Caughman-Harman Funeral Home website or by making a contribution through a page set up by the Irmo Fire Foundation.