MARIN'S FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS

Firefighting is one of America's most dangerous professions. Many Marin Firefighters have died in the line of duty, and many succumb to illness related to on the job exposures to toxic chemicals and carcinogens in smoke and hazardous materials. The Marin Independent Journal published an excellent article titled "Hometown Heroes: The Untold Stories of Marin's Fire Service Casualties" in 2013.

The International Association of Firefighters and California Professional Firefighters maintain dedicated memorials to Fallen Firefighters.

In 1986, the IAFF completed a permanent tribute to its members, the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Memorial was founded to recognize and honor past and future professional fire fighters and emergency medical personnel who are killed in the line of duty and to provide assistance to the surviving spouses and children of those members.

The California Firefighters Memorial is a unique and stunning tribute to more than 1,250 firefighters who have died in the line of duty since California became a state in 1850. The California Firefighters Memorial is located in Capitol Park, the grounds adjacent to the State Capitol in Sacramento, California. Capitol Park is a state and national landmark.

Lee MacDonald

Unknown-2012
San Rafael Fire Department
Occupational Cancer

William Marsh

Unknown-1980
San Rafael Fire Department
Aneurysm

Edward Kelly

1946-2007
Ross Valley Fire Department
Occupational Cancer

Thomas James Sutton Jr.

1912-1962
Marinwood Fire Department
Heart Attack While Responding to a Call

Scott Carnevale

1969-2011
Alameda Fire Department/Mill Valley, Tamalpais, Marin County Fire Departments
Occupational Cancer

James Niven

1935-1978
Larkspur Fire Department
Fire Engine Crash en route to Structure Fire

Jeffrey Victor Powers

1963-2008
Southern Marin Fire Protection District
Heart Attack While on Duty

Samuel J. Blumenberg

Unknown-1970
Hamilton Field Fire Department
Rescue Boat Accident

John Jones

1943-2008
San Rafael Fire Department
Occupational Cancer

George Cavellero

1918-1969
Novato Fire Protection District
Heart Attack While Responding to Fire

Michael McCusker

1950-2006
San Rafael Fire Department
Occupational Cancer

Frank Kinsler

1938-1961
Alto Fire Department
Railroad Tunnel Fire, Tunnel Collapse

Richard Bissig

1941-2006
Marin County Fire Department
Occupational Cancer

Robert Paoli

1975-2006
Marinwood Fire Department
Cardiac Arrest

William Bottini, Jr.

1897-1950
San Rafael Fire Department
Building Collapse During Structure Fire

Steven Liss Rucker

1963-2003
Novato Fire Protection District
Burn Injuries, Overrun by Wildfire

Aubrey E. “Jack” Miller

1915-1950
San Rafael Fire Department
Building Collapse During Structure Fire

Sekou Turner

1973-2002
Alameda County FD/Marin County FD
Cardiac Arrest While Responding to Emergency

Samuel Mazza

1887-1948
Marin County Fire Department
Heart Attack While Fighting Grass Fire

Kenneth Mazza

Unknown-1982
San Rafael Fire Department
TBD

Jeff Lee Wilson

1955-2001
Southern Marin Fire Protection District
Heart Attack

Louis H. Hewelcke

1877-1937
San Rafael Fire Department
Grass Fire

Gary Mennick

Unknown-2001
San Rafael Fire Department
Occupational Cancer

Robert “Bert” Meagor

1900-1936
San Anselmo Fire Department
Overrun by Wildfire

Gary Vedder

Unknown-1999
Novato Fire Protection District
Occupational Cancer

Clarence C. Grimm

1889-1932
Tamalpais Forest Fire District
Gunshot Wound

Avery Clary

Unknown-1987
Tiburon Fire Protection District
Occupational Cancer

Aristid Papadimetreon

Unknown-1914
Ross Fire Department
Structural Collapse

Stanley Bush

San Rafael Fire Department
Occupational Cancer

Walter A. Cook

1870-1924
Sausalito Fire Department
Smoke Inhalation While Fighting Structure Fire

Paul Crimmins

Unknown-2023
San Rafael Fire Department
Occupational Cancer

Jerry Thrasher

Unknown-2022
Marinwood Fire Department
Occupational Cancer

James "Jamie" Byrnes

1973-2024
Marin County Fire Department
Occupational Cancer

Rick Addicks

1969-2024
Ross Valley Fire Department
Occupational Cancer

OUR MEMORIALS

IAFF Memorial in Colorado Springs
https://www.iaff.org/fffm/
California Wildland Firefighter Memorial
https://cwfm.info/
Interagency Wildland Firefighters Monument
https://www.nifc.gov/wildland-firefighters-monument