The motorcade of fire trucks and first aid vehicles waiting near the environmental trail and scenic overlook on the eastbound Causeway during the early afternoon of Sept. 16 no doubt caused some speculation for motorists. Just days earlier, a police investigation had fully closed the bridge.

It wasn’t that kind of event that drew the throngs of volunteers to the bridge, however; it was Matt Adams coming home.

Adams, 17, a junior firefighter with the Surf City Volunteer Fire Co.