FALLEN HEROES - REDUX

By Debbie Bulloch



After what was a fairly cool summer, L.A. is now baking under a scorching sun that has kept temperatures into the triple digits for more than a week. Unfortunately, as it is usually the case, the danger of brush fires increases as temperatures climb.

This last heat wave has been no different. For nearly ten days, fires have been raging just north of Los Angeles, in the Angeles National Forest. As of this writing, the fired has burned over 154,655 acres, or 242 square miles. To put these numbers into perspective, the fire has burned an area roughly equivalent, in size, to the entire city of Chicago. Containment is not expected until September 15, 2009.



In addition to the properties destroyed, the vegetation burned and the wildlife forever lost, the fire claimed the lives of two brave firefighters.

Los Angeles County fire Capt. Tedmund "Ted" Hall, 47, of San Bernardino County, and firefighter Specialist Arnaldo "Arnie" Quinones, 35, of Palmdale, died about 2:30 p.m. Sunday when the vehicle they were in went off a road south of Acton, near Mount Gleason, and overturned, plunging more than 800 feet.



Firefighters who have been battling the fire paused and saluted Friday as the body of Hall was driven in a white hearse from North Hollywood to Victorville.

Thursday's funeral procession began at a North Hollywood fire station and went north on the Hollywood (170) Freeway then moved slowly past Hansen Dam Park, which has served as the command post for crews battling the Station Fire, which has scorched 148,258 acres since it broke out Aug. 26.

In a scene reminiscent of the moving tribute to fallen comrades along Canada’s Highway of Heroes, fire crews and common citizens lined the streets and bridges and saluted their fallen comrade. The 123-mile procession stretched from the North Hollywood fire station to a funeral home in Victorville.

Hall had been with the L.A. County Fire Department for 26 years, while Quinones had been with the department for eight years. Hall began his firefighting career as a student in 1981. He worked out of stations in Lakewood, Whittier, La Puente, La Canada Flintridge, Acton and Palmdale. Hall is survived by his wife, Katherine, and two sons, Randall, 21, and Steven, 20.



Quinones was expecting his first child with his wife Loressa, who is due to deliver in upcoming weeks. Quinones began working with the Department in August 1998; he had worked in Palmdale, Covina and La Canada Flintridge. Quinones had a tattoo with the words: FIRST IN - LAST OUT emblazoned on it.



A public memorial service for both men will be held Sept. 12 at Dodger Stadium.

In a recent development, it has been reported that the fire was deliberately set. With Thursday's announcement that the Station Fire was considered an act of arson, the firefighters' deaths are being investigated as homicides.

California’s Governor has offered a reward of $100,000.00 for any information regarding the suspected arson.

I am deeply thankful for the sacrifices made by the courageous men and women of fire departments from all over the world, who willingly put their lives at risk to protect our lives, property, animals.

Every one of you is a modern-day hero. God bless you all.