Viewing Thursday For Firefighter Killed In Training Exercise

POMPANO BEACH (CBS4) – A viewing will be held Thursday for a Pompano Beach firefighter who died after he fell from a 100-foot ladder during a climbing exercise.

The viewing for William "Bill" Elliott will be from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the First Baptist Church at 138 NE 1st Street in Pompano Beach.

On Friday funeral services will be held at the Calvary Chapel located at 2401 W Cypress Creek Road in Ft. Lauderdale at 12:30 p.m.

There will be an official fire service funeral procession which is expected to be sizeable. The procession will begin at Citi Center in Pompano Beach, pass in front of Pompano Beach City Hall on West Atlantic Boulevard and finally arrive at the chapel.

Elliott was a member of the city's fire department since 1989. Fire Chief Harry Small said his firefighters train often on the ladders, making sure they are confident going up and down when simulating a high stress situation.

"They were doing an exercise that he'd done 100 times," said Small. "We don't know exactly what happened up there he was one of the most skilled people and responsible people we know."

The chief said all safety regulations were followed. He said Elliott was using a harness during the ladder climb but as trained, he unhooked to come down the ladder. He was near the top of the ladder when he fell.

Elliott leaves behind his parents, a brother and a sister.