PINE TWP, MERCER COUNTY — Chris Holmes said the duty of a fire chief is to remain strong for his department, but there comes a time when even the leader needs support.

For Holmes, chief of the Pine Township Engine Company, that happened after his brother and fellow firefighter Brad Holmes, 21, died March 5 from injuries he suffered in a house fire Feb. 29 at 132 Garden Ave., Grove City.

Another fellow firefighter, Scott King, 24, suffered first- and third-degree burns to his arms and face, but he is recovering.

One of the tenants in the house, Patricia Andrews-Smith, 40, died in the fire.

Chris Holmes is overwhelmed by the outpouring of condolences and fundraising he has seen and with the addition of new T-shirts offered by Superior Ambulance to memorialize his brother.

"A fire chief can only be so strong, and there's a breaking point," Holmes said. "I have a lot of people to fall back on."

Doug Dick, director of operations at Superior Ambulance, said he wants to help the people who have been affected by the tragedy.

"I think everybody in the community is coming out in support of everything, and it's unfortunate that this tragic event happened, and it affected a lot of people," Dick said. "It's a small community, and it's affected everybody."

Dick said the T-shirt Superior Ambulance designed has a photograph of Brad Holmes in his firefighting gear with the definition of a hero from Webster's dictionary next to his face. On the front, "Fallen Hero" is printed with a photograph of his own gear draped in an American flag.

Dick said the shirts are popular and are almost sold out.

"We had 200, and we don't have many left, and now we are taking more orders for them," he said.

Sizes for the shirts range from small to XXXL large. The prices begin at $15 and go up for the larger sizes.

Chris Holmes said he has received an outpouring of letters from fire departments across the country, including the Los Angeles Fire Department and others in New Mexico and Texas.

He said every little thing helps.

"Everyone has been like a brother to me," Holmes said. "We have always been a close fire station, but this has brought us closer than we have ever been."

Chris Baer, a township volunteer firefighter, said there are three different shirts that will be distributed in eastern Mercer County and in Butler County. He created the first designs for shirts and decals to raise funds for the department.

"It's really cool to see how everybody comes together to support this," Baer said. "It's amazing how the fire community and the local community have rallied around and helped us through with donations and calls and everything."

Baer said in addition to his own shirt designs and those by the Superior Ambulance, another Pine Township shirt will be reprinted, one created by Brad Holmes himself just a short time ago.

"That shirt was for our members. We call them duty shirts to wear around the station," Baer said. "A lot of people requested them because they would see us wearing them, and they wanted to get them."

Brad Holmes' design has a firefighter's helmet on the back with a design of flames around the sides with the department information on the front.

All T-shirts will sell for $15 to $19; sweatshirts and hooded sweatshirts will sell for $25 to $34. Prices are dependent on size.

The order will be placed Monday, Baer said.

Order forms can be picked up at fire departments in east Mercer County and also at the Slippery Rock, Harrisville and Unionville fire departments in Butler County.

Brad Holmes' friends and co-workers at the Wal-Mart store in Grove City also have organized a luncheon Sunday to benefit the Holmes and King families. It will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Grove City Rescue Squad station, 1252 S. Center St. Ext.