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FAIRBANKS - Firefighters from across Alaska have paid tribute to Battalion Chief Phil Rounds who died earlier this month after a 10-year battle with throat and lung cancer.

Rounds, who died Nov. 21, was a popular leader in the Alaska Fire Service. He worked for the Eielson Air Force Base Fire Department and the University Fire Department, where he served for more than 20 years. He also traveled the state training firefighters.

Hundreds of people attended the ceremony Saturday at the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. Gov. Sarah Palin sent a letter of condolence.

Rounds was honored with a long processional of fire trucks that drove down University Avenue from the fire station near Davis Road to the UAF campus. The engine that carried Rounds' flag-draped casket broke from the pack, passing through an arch formed by two fire ladders. A giant American flag hung from the arch.

The waiting firefighters formed two lines and stood at attention as the pall bearers slowly shuffled into the building, followed by Rounds' wife, Bess, and other mourners.

Then, hundreds of people filed into the Davis Concert Hall for a religious service.

Gaylen Brevik, a Juneau resident, longtime friend and fellow trainer, spoke about Rounds' love for his work, calling him a "cautious but aggressive firefighter.

"Phil had a blast teaching and traveling," Brevik said. "His students felt his passion and sensed his good heart."

The memorial service drew firefighters from across Alaska and Outside. One of Rounds' former students came from as far away as New York.

Firefighter Josh Browning traveled from Anchorage to attend the memorial service. Rounds' perpetual good humor made an impression on Browning.

"He was always in a happy mood," Browning said. "No matter what was going on, he had a smile on his face."