At a Sept. 28 memorial service, Fort Worth Fire Chief L. Charles Gaines was remembered by family and friends as a devoted leader who had a passion for firefighting and helped make the cities in which he served safer. Gaines was found dead of hypertensive heart disease at his home Sept. 23.

"His time with us was short, but the influence that he had upon our fire department will resonate for many years," acting Fort Worth Fire Chief Hugo Esparza told hundreds of mourners who gathered at Great Commission Baptist Church in south Fort Worth. "Charles Gaines made a difference."

Thursday's memorial service was the first of two. Gaines spent 21 years with the Oklahoma City Fire Department before becoming Fort Worth's fire chief in November 2002. A wake and service will be held in Oklahoma City Sept. 29 and 30.