In Memorium: Engine 57

[abercrombie]

Community,


Today is the first anniversary of our loss of five good men on the Esperanza Fire. Please join us in a moment of silence at noon, commemorating E-57's crew: Lotzie, Gus, Jason, Pablo and Danny.

Memories:
www.engine57memorial.org/thecrew.html and
www.wildlandfire.com/docs/2006/engine57.htm
www.wildlandfire.com/docs/2006/eng57/dietrich-walker.htm


"This high performance team ... all kept working for the safety of the public and to raise the bar of professionalism for the United States Forest Service.

Our challenge now is to honor the memory of our fallen brothers, Mark, Jess, Jason, Pablo and Danny. To do this we're all going to have to work a little bit harder and be a little bit better, because Engine Company 57 raised the bar for all of us…..forever."

Norm Walker at the memorial service.


Each of us honor them by raising the bar in what we do every day.

Be safe facing our current challenges. Thanks for your service.

Ab.

[abercrombie]

Please plan for this moment of silence...
Ab.

[FireDonkey]

From the Director:

All Cal Fire facilities will fly their flags a half staff today in memory of the crew of Engine 57. A moment of silence will be observed a 12 noon today.

[abercrombie]

Noon is COMING SOON.

Thank you.

Ab.

[Oswego]

Thanks for the reminder to take time to honor the memory of these brave individuals.
My thoughts are with all you folks, in S. Cal., during this very significant time in wildfire history.

[Fire Geek]

The San Bernardino Sun's front page headline today; "5 fire deaths recalled".


http://www.sbsun.com/search/ci_10818...-www.sbsun.com

Friends, family of five fallen firefighters to mark second anniversary of their deaths
2nd anniversary reality sets in
By Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 10/25/2008 10:13:30 PM PDT


Today is the second anniversary of the day five area firefighters died in the fierce Esperanza Fire in the San Jacinto Mountains.
For the mothers, fathers, fire captains and others recognizing the day, it is in some ways a more difficult time than the first.

"The first year was so busy with all the functions to go to," said Vivian Najera, aunt of Daniel Hoover-Najera, one of the fallen firefighters. "This year, it seems like the reality has set in that it really happened. Now we have such an empty feeling and miss him even more."

The four members of U.S. Forest Service Engine Crew 57 who died at the scene were Engine Capt. Mark Loutzenhiser, 43, of Idyllwild; Hoover-Najera, 20, of San Jacinto; fire engine operator Jess McLean, 27, of Beaumont; and assistant fire engine operator Jason McKay, 27, of Phelan.

The fifth firefighter, Pablo Cerda, 23, of Fountain Valley, died Oct. 31 at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton.

In the year following their deaths, there were several events commemorating the five men. Parks and other places were dedicated to them in their hometowns.

On the first anniversary, a moment of silence was observed by San Bernardino National Forest employees.

Today, there will again be a moment of silence at noon.

"It is a time when we will honor our fellow firefighters, who will always be a part of our Forest Service family," said San Bernardino National Forest Fire Chief Mike Dietrich.

On Saturday, Cal Fire also dedicated the new interagency Station 24 in Cabazon in memory of the hundreds of firefighters who fought the Esperanza Fire. There will be a plaque naming the five who fell, Dietrich said.

A moment of silence will also be held at the memorial event Najera has organized at Jo'An's Restaurant in Idyllwild.

The event is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and will feature four bands.

There will also be a raffle and CDs will be sold to raise money for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, a nonprofit that provides assistance to fallen firefighters' families.

"We don't want to sadden everyone," Najera said. "Our goal is to celebrate their lives because they were very loved."

The family of McLean has chosen to honor his memory with the first Jess McLean Memorial Baseball Tournament. It began Saturday and is to continue today at Noble Creek Park in Beaumont.

Games will be held on the field that was named after McLean. Money raised will also be donated to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation.

Bonnie McKay, the mother of Jason McKay, will mark the day at Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Apple Valley, where her son is buried.

It is a quiet and beautiful place where she has spent many Sundays.

"It seems like it will be even more solemn this time around," she said. "Time has taught us how to deal with it, but it certainly does not heal it."


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[FSFF]

Always Remember...

[abercrombie]

The E-57 Memorial Website:

http://www.engine57memorial.org/

Condolences from 2006:

http://www.wildlandfire.com/docs/2006/engine57.htm

One year anniversary on the Hotlist:

http://www.wildlandfire.com/hotlist/...ad.php?p=11547

If you haven't already, please take a moment to recall these 5 fine people and send some good thoughts to their families and friends.

Ab.

[Firescribe]

The Redlands Daily Facts website has just posted the following article:

Families pay tribute on third anniversary of Esperanza Fire
Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/20/2009 05:48:42 PM PDT

It has been nearly three years since Jason McKay and four others lost their lives in the fast-moving Esperanza Fire in the San Jacinto Mountains.

Four members of U.S. Forest Service Engine Crew 57 died Oct. 26, 2006, when they were overcome by flames while trying to save a home.

McKay, 27, along with engine Capt. Mark Loutzenhiser, 43, of Idyllwild, Daniel Najera, 20, of San Jacinto, and fire engine operator Jess McLean, 27, of Beaumont died that day.

A fifth firefighter, Pablo Cerda, 23, of Fountain Valley, died Oct. 31 at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton.

For McKay's Apple Valley family, it could have been yesterday.

"We keep hoping it is going to get better, but we realize this is probably as good as it's going to get," said his mother, Bonnie McKay of Apple Valley. "His chair is still empty and there will always be a hole in my heart."

In June, Raymond Lee Oyler, a mechanic from Beaumont, was sentenced to death for starting the fire.

McLean's family members and friends will hold the second annual Engine 57 Memorial Baseball Tournament on Saturday and Sunday at Noble Creek Community Park in Beaumont and other locations in Hemet and Winchester.
The Noble Creek portion will take place on a field that was dedicated in McLean's honor last year.

"We are remembering what they were about and what they stood for," said McLean's brother, Josh McLean of Henderson, Nev. "It's a rough weekend for the family and this is a way to make something positive out of it."

U.S. Forest Service employees will observe a moment of silence on Monday, as they have each year since the firefighters died.

A small ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday at U.S. Forest Service/Cal Fire Station 24, 50382 Irene St. in Cabazon.

"It's already been three years and I want the community to remember it like we remember it," said Vivian Najera, Daniel's aunt. "All of the families have become one big family."

Bonnie McKay plans to spend part of the day at the place she goes to every Sunday and on her son's birthday, his gravesite in Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Apple Valley.

"It is my way to remember what a fabulous son I had," she said.


Click to view article...

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[sr5401]

October 26th is approaching.

My thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the family and friends who are still hurting from this tragedy.

Always Remember Engine 57