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.
