By Steve Lyttle
The Charlotte Observer, N.C.

SALISBURY, N.C. — Fire, police and emergency crews from across the Carolinas are expected to participate in a procession today from Charlotte to Salisbury, carrying the bodies of two firefighters killed in a Friday blaze in Rowan County.

The bodies of Victor Isler and Justin Monroe will be carried from the medical examiners office in Charlotte to Salisbury for funeral arrangements.

They were killed Friday in a fire that destroyed Salisbury Millwork.

The procession will begin about 3 p.m. at the medical examiners office on Ninth Street at College Street in Charlotte's uptown area. Salisbury Fire Chief Bob Parnell said he expects the procession to reach Salisbury by 4 p.m. An exact route has not been announced, but it is expected that the procession will follow Interstate 85 for most of the trip.

Police, fire and medical emergency crews lined every overpass on I-85 on Saturday when the firefighters' bodies were taken from Salisbury to Charlotte for medical examinations.

Parnell said Sunday he hopes the public will observe "the tradition of paying respect as the procession goes by" today.

In addition, authorities in Rowan County say a fund has been established to help the families of the two victims. The fund will be handled by Bank of North Carolina, which has branches in Salisbury and Harrisburg. Details can be found at the City of Salisbury's Web site, www.salisburync.gov.

And Salisbury Fire Department Chaplain Dan Peters said Sunday that red ribbons will be available to the public to wear. The ribbons can be picked up at any of four Salisbury fire stations:

Station 1, 514 East Innes Street.

Station 2, 2312 South Main Street.

Station 3, 1604 West Innes Street.

Station 4, 2325 Statesville Road.