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