Minn. Firefighter`s Funeral to be Held Wednesday

Sept. 09--Some roads will be temporarily closed during the funeral Wednesday for a St. Paul firefighter who died in the line of duty last week, the fire department said Tuesday.

Firefighter/paramedic Shane Clifton's funeral, which will include full military and fire-service honors, will be 10 a.m. to noon at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church, 1669 Arcade St. in St. Paul. The fire department urged motorists to avoid the area during the temporary road closures.

Arcade Street will be completely closed from Wheelock Parkway to Larpenteur Avenue, and the eastbound lanes of Larpenteur Avenue will be closed from Arcade Street to Parkway Drive from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Clifton's funeral procession will travel from the church to Fort Snelling National Cemetery for his 1:30 p.m. interment. At 12:05 p.m., Larpenteur Avenue from Arcade Street to Interstate 35E will be closed in both directions long enough for the procession to pass.

From 12:05 to 1:30 p.m., when the procession reaches Fort Snelling National Cemetery, various cross streets and on/off freeway ramps will be closed by police and the Minnesota State Patrol.

Gov. Mark Dayton ordered all U.S. and Minnesota flags flown at half-staff at all state and federal buildings in Minnesota, from sunrise to sunset Wednesday.

Dayton plans to attend Clifton's funeral.

Clifton, 38, collapsed and died while working at Station 14 at Snelling and Laurel avenues Aug. 31. He suffered a massive heart attack, his family said in his obituary.

Copyright 2015 - Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.