Flags are at half-staff across the state to honor 60-year-old fallen Plainville firefighter Ray Moreau, who was killed in the line of duty Sunday, leaving his close-knit community grieving.

“We're a very small town, so everybody kind of knows everybody. It just really hits home,” said Audrey Laprise, who grew up in Plainville and recently moved to Bristol.

Laprise was among those who stopped by the Plainville Fire Department Monday to add to the growing memorial out front. Flowers and messages paid tribute to Moreau’s 35 years of service and sacrifice.

Moreau responded to a house fire that broke out around 6:20 a.m. Sunday on Maria Road. State police said he was working on scene when a piece of a truck broke off and hit him, causing catastrophic wounds to his leg. Moreau was rushed to the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain, where he died in surgery, police said.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled his death an accident and determined the cause was blunt force trauma to his head, neck, torso and extremities.

“If any one of us gets hurt, it's a collective feeling,” explained Jennifer Rosado, a fellow volunteer firefighter in Avon, as she left a bouquet on the memorial.

Rosato said it was important to pay her respects to her fallen brother and be there for the rest of the department.

“It's a close-knit group even if we don't know each other. We're all in this together, so it's important we support each other and come out,” Rosado told News 12 as she held back tears. “It's a small thing but just lets them know we're thinking of them.”

Departments from across the area have stepped up to cover for Plainville firefighters so they can take time to mourn. A procession took Moreau's body from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to the funeral home Monday afternoon, pausing in front of the fire department for a final tribute. As firefighters saluted, members of the public stood on the other side of the street, some with their hands over their hearts.

“May God bless him, you know, for all he's done,” said Debra Petrucci, who lives in Bristol but came to watch the procession. “It was beautiful. Just everyone came together, and I just hope that they're there for the family.”

Moreau was remembered as a loving husband, a Marine veteran, and a dedicated public servant. He volunteered tens of thousands of hours with the department, something that's not lost on his community.

The Plainview Town Council will honor Moreau with a public ceremony at the high school’s Tinty Stadium. All are welcome. Funeral arrangements have not been announced yet.

State police are investigating Moreau’s death with help from OSHA and the New Britain state’s attorney.