Bend community, firefighters line streets as procession returns twin brothers killed in Idaho plane crash

(Update: Adding video, fire official comment)

Tragedy at airport came during backcountry camping trip

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Community members lined Greenwood Avenue in northeast Bend Wednesday afternoon as Bend Fire & Rescue led a procession carrying firefighter Engineer Daniel Harro and his twin brother Mark Harro back home to Bend after a fatal plane crash in Idaho earlier this week

The Harro brothers were transported home from Idaho by a Bend Fire & Rescue medic unit and escorted by Bend Fire & Rescue personnel. They were escorted along U.S. Highway 20 to the Idaho border by the Idaho State Police and then escorted by the Oregon State Police home to Bend.

Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki said, "This is a way to give honor to these guys, allow the community show respect and bring them back home."

Members of the public who wished to pay their respects to the Harro families were invited to view the process by lining the sidewalks of NE Greenwood Avenue between 8th and 12 streets.

"We thank our community for their patience and support during this difficult time for our organization and the Harro families," the fire department announcement stated.

On Monday morning around 11 a.m. Mountain time, a single-engine Aviat A-1A small plane crashed at the Johnson Creek airport in Yellow Pine, Idaho, about 200 miles northeast of Bend.

Bend firefighter Daniel Harro, 38, was flying the plane, with his twin brother Mark Harro on board, returning from a camping trip. Both died in the crash.

Scappoose Fire Chief Jeff Pricher worked with Daniel for seven years.

“The second it happened, I’d say within five minutes, the majority of our organization knew,” Pricher said Tuesday.

He said Daniel, a firefighter and paramedic, was always trying to challenge himself physically.

“His big thing was always being in shape for the next trip,” Pricher said. 

He also was always promoting his love of the outdoors and the environment.

“I did have the privilege of spending time with him in the mountains,” Pricher said. “Not as much as I would have liked, but that’s definitely where his passions were.”

Daniel moved to Bend in 2014. His brother Mark and Mark’s wife, Kelly, quickly followed.

NewsChannel 21 spoke with Kelly on Tuesday by phone. She said Mark was the most creative person she’d ever met.

Mark always had a mischievous twinkle in his eye, and could fix or build anything, from a pizza oven to his custom 4-Runner.

Mark was also a talented artist, sharing an art shop with Kelly, filled with his pottery and pencil drawings.

Mark, who she called her “adventure buddy,” shared his brother's passion for the outdoors.

She said they had been planning this camping trip to Idaho for a long time.

While she knew every adventure has its risks, she emphasized that Mark and Daniel were always so careful. An accident like this never crossed her mind.

Bend Fire Chief Todd Reilly said in a statement, “This is a devastating loss for our family.”

Pricher reiterated the sentiment. 

“I mean, everybody here who knew Mr. Harro is heartbroken and devastated,” Pricher said. 

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Mark is survived by his wife, Kelly, and Daniel by his wife, Elisif.