I remember fallen firefighters

Today I am pausing to remember all wildland firefighters, on the ground and in the air, who have died in the line of duty. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. You died leaving family, friends, and colleagues who loved you. You died working to keep us safe from wildfires. I remember you and those you left behind -- your family, friends, and colleagues.

Among those wildland firefighters who died the week of July 1 to July 7 since 2000 are:

• Alan Wyatt July 2, 2002, age 51, Missionary Ridge Fire (OR)
• Raymond Peterman age 62, Incident date- July 4, 2003 (heart attack), died on Jan 17, 2004 from complications following triple bypass surgery
• Dennise Leslie on July 2, 2007, Age 37, Coal City Community Volunteer FD, IN
• John Hermo on July 7, 2008, age 33, drowning while assigned to the Hells Half Complex (CA)
• Robert Roland on July 2, 2008, age 63, Oso Fire (CA).
• Caleb Hamm, on July 7, 2011, age 23, CR 337 Fire, TX. 

And those incidents over the last twenty years where multiple wildland firefighters lost their lives this week (June 30 to July 6)

AZ Yarnell Hill 19 on June 30, 2013

• Andrew Ashcraft, age 29
• Robert Caldwell, age 23
• Travis Carter, age 31
• Dustin Deford, age 24
• Christopher MacKenzie, age 30
• Eric Marsh, age 43
• Grant McKee, age 21
• Sean Misner, age 26
• Scott Norris, age 28
• Wade Parker, age 22
• John Percin, age 24
• Anthony Rose, age 23
• Jesse Steed, age 36
• Joe Thurston, age 32
• Travis Turbyfill, age 27
• William Warneke,age 25
• Clayton Whitted, age 28
• Kevin Woyjeck, age 21
• Garret Zuppiger, age 27

SD MAFFS 7 (4 lives lost, 2 survivors) on July 1, 2012. The four who lost their lives are:

• Lt. Col. Paul Mikeal, age 42
• Maj. Joseph M. McCormick, age 36
• Maj. Ryan S. David, age 35
• Senior Master Sgt. Robert Cannon, age 50

South Canyon / Storm King CO (14 lives lost) on July 6, 1994

• Kathi Julie Beck, age 24
• Tamera "Tami" Jean Bickett, age 25 
• Scott A. Blecha, age 27
• Robert E. Browning Jr., age 28
• Levi Brinkley, age 22  
• Douglas Michael Dunbar, age 22 
• Terri Ann Hagen, age 28 
• Bonnie Jean Holtby, age 21

• Robert Alan Johnson, age 26 
• Jon Roy Kelso, age 27
• Donald K. Mackey, age 34 
• Roger W. Roth, age 31 
• James R. Thrash, age 44
• Richard Tyler, age 33

Note: I referenced Always Remembered in compiling the list of the fallen that I mention here.