07/09/25 Commissioners Honor Firefighters With A Proclamation Honoring Firefighter Appreciation Week (Photo)
-07/09/25
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2025
Commissioners Honor Firefighters with a Proclamation Honoring Firefighter Appreciation Week
(Douglas County, Ore.) Douglas County Commissioners Tim Freeman, Tom Kress, and Chris Boice issued a proclamation today at their Weekly Business Meeting calling upon all citizens of Douglas County to observe July 7-13, 2025, as "Firefighter Appreciation Week" in Douglas County. The proclamation was presented by Commissioner Boice, on behalf of the Board and acknowledged that, “We recognize that firefighters are dedicated public servants who place themselves in harm’s way to protect the lives, property, and wellbeing of our communities. These brave men and women respond to emergencies with courage and professionalism, facing dangers such as fire, hazardous materials, medical crises, and natural disasters. Firefighters not only respond to emergencies but also work tirelessly to prevent them through education, training, community outreach, and fire safety programs. We recognize the physical, mental, and emotional demands of this honorable profession, and express deep gratitude for the commitment and sacrifice of every firefighter, past and present.” A copy of the live video presentation can be found on the Douglas County Government Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DouglasCountyeGovernment.
This week the Commissioners celebrated the men and women of Douglas County that have chosen to serve others in the firefighting profession, whether they are career, volunteer, wildland, or structural firefighters or chief officers, company officers, battalion chiefs, engineers, lieutenants, captains, fire marshals, public information officers, those cross-trained as EMTs and paramedics, or fire office personnel. Following the reading of the proclamation, Commissioner Freeman asked to take a few minutes to honor our fallen firefighters.
“We also dedicate today to the memory of our fallen firefighters who selflessly gave their lives for our communities. We do this to honor them and make sure that they are never forgotten! We researched lists of fallen firefighters from local agencies, as well as from state and national archives. We were able to locate the names and respective agencies for 19 fallen firefighters from Douglas County dating back to 1951.” – CommissionerFreeman
Chief Michael Lane from Sutherlin Fire Department and Chief Tyler Christopherson from Roseburg Fire Department were invited to the podium to present the Fireman’s Prayer, recite the names of our 19 fallen firefighters from Douglas County and present the “Last Alarm” poem followed by a 200-year-old tradition of sounding a bell. Chief Christopherson read the Fireman’s Prayer, followed by an emotional reading of the 19 fallen firefighter’s names, agencies and year of passing by Chief Lane. As firefighter tradition notes, it is customary that the ‘Last Alarm’ be sounded for our firefighting brothers and sisters who paid the supreme sacrifice. For having selflessly given their lives for the good of their fellow man, their tasks completed, their duties well done, to signify, they are “returning to quarters.” Following the reading of the “Last Alarm,” Chief Christopherson ceremoniously rang the bell five rings, three times each in honor of our local fallen firefighters. The “Last Alarm” was written by Jim Martinez. He was a long-time member of the International Association of Fire Fighters. We would like to thank Chief Lane and Chief Christopherson for helping us honor our fallen fire heroes. Commissioner Freeman then asked for a moment of silence to remember the 19 fallen firefighters.
Douglas County Fallen Firefighters:
Jerry Bain - Douglas Forest Protective Association - 1951
Roy W. McFarland - Roseburg Fire Department, Roseburg - 1959
John J. Richards - Douglas Forest Protective Association - 1961
Richard Underhill - Douglas Forest Protective Association - 1979
Elwin I. King - Fair Oaks Fire Department, Sutherlin - 1984
Mark Giles - Douglas Forest Protective Association - 1987
James Moore - Douglas Forest Protective Association - 1987
Russell Brine - Elkton Rural Fire District, Elkton - 1987
Julius C. Starr - USDA Forest Service, Roseburg Office - 1990
Clark N. Gilkison - Fair Oaks Fire Department, Sutherlin - 1991
Rob Johnson - Prineville Hot Shots (South Canyon Fire, Colorado) - 1994
Paul E. Gibson - First Strike Environmental, Roseburg - ODF Contractor - 2003
David Kelly Hammer - First Strike Environmental, Roseburg - ODF Contractor - 2003
Jeffrey D. Hengel - First Strike Environmental, Roseburg - ODF Contractor - 2003
Jesse D. James - First Strike Environmental, Roseburg - ODF Contractor - 2003
Richard Burt Moore II - First Strike Environmental, Roseburg – ODF Contractor - 2003
Leland ‘David’ Price Jr. - First Strike Environmental, Roseburg – ODF Contractor - 2003
Mark Robert Ransdell - First Strike Environmental, Roseburg – ODF Contractor - 2003
Ricardo M. Ruiz - First Strike Environmental, Roseburg – ODF Contractor - 2003
Commissioner Tim Freeman presented Firefighter Appreciation Weekproclamation certificates to firefighters and fire personnel from:
• Central Douglas Fire & Rescue: Chief Rob Bullock, Mark Hernandez, Hunter Hillard, Josh Wagner, Bryson Bellior, Don Stanton, Jessica Hansen, Margie Guisto, Brooklyn Raade
• Winston-Dillard Fire District: Chief Rob Bullock
• Roseburg Fire Department: Chief Tyler Christopherson, Battalion Chief Chris Galligan.
• Sutherlin Fire Department: Chief Mike Lane and Deputy Chief Scott McKnight
• Lookingglass Rural Volunteer Fire Department: Assistant Chief Justin Fox
• Fair Oaks Rural Fire Department: Greg Mock, Dave Hopkins, Michael Wighton, Tom Yanitor
• Glide Fire District: Chief Ted Damewood, David Reda, Kris Wood
• Douglas Forest Protective Association: District Manager Pat Skrip, Adam Sinkey
• Cow Creek Tribal Fire Management: Chief Monte Bryan, Kyle Reed, Nathan Lawrence, Blayke Kelly, Blain Olbaca,
In 2017, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation created Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters, to recognize Fallen Firefighters. As a gesture of support and honor we have asked that the exterior lights of the Douglas County Courthouse be turned RED from July 1-13, as a tribute to the 19 fallen Douglas County firefighters, their families, and ALL fallen fire heroes across our great nation.
This proclamation is a reminder to our citizens to take the time to thank ourfire heroes, past and present, who, by their faithful and loyal devotion to their profession, have rendered immeasurable service to their communities.
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Media Contact:Tamara Howell, Emergency Communications & Community Engagement Specialist, Douglas County Public Affairs Office | Office: (541) 957-4896 | Cell: (541) 670-2804 | Email: tamara.howell@douglascountyor.gov
Photo Credit: K.Tate/Douglas County