California to expand its memorial to fallen firefighters

(FOX40.COM) — The California Fire Foundation kicked off a $12 million fundraising effort this week to expand the California Firefighters Memorial in Capitol Park to make sure that all fallen firefighters in the state are properly remembered.

Currently, over 1,500 firefighters’ names are etched on this wall, with 35 additional names added just last year.

In recent years, deaths attributed to health reasons, even if they happen after the person has left the job, are more considered as being linked to working as a firefighter, leading to the need for a larger memorial.

The foundation wants to add memorial space for another 4,600 names, which would provide for additional engravings over the next 150 years. The expansion could take five years to complete.

Two Sacramento firefighters died while on duty. It took years to have them recognized

“It will complete telling the story of being a firefighter and serving communities in California,” said Brian Rice, chair of the foundation.

The expansion’s lead designer, Adan Romo, who is also the son of a late battalion chief, wants to tell that story through the design of the expansion.

“In the fire service, when one of the crew is out, they hang their coat and helmet and you know that they’re out of duty for that day… because these names of men and women who have passed have now done their duty, they’ve done the ultimate duty, to sacrifice their lives, there are going to be helmets and jackets hanging at the end of those walls,” Romo said.

For people like Rosalie Turbeville, whose husband of more than three decades died and whose name, Bruce Turbeville, was added to the wall, the memorial serves as a permanent reminder to all Californians of his and other firefighters’ sacrifice.

“For my family, for his fellow friends and firefighters, that is going to be here long after we’re gone… he’ll always be here,” Turbeville said.

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