Our Fallen

Jim Walker Childre Feb 26, 1935 – Dec 13, 2019 Longtime Yreka resident Jim Walker Childre passed away on December 13, 2019 at Madrone Hospice in Yreka. He was 84 years old. Jim was born on February 26, 1935 in Laurel, Mississippi to Rufus and Lora Childre. When Jim was three, the family moved to […]

Eugene was born on July 28, 1922, in Perris, California to his parents, William and Mattie C. Smith. He had two older sisters and three older brothers. After his graduation he went to work full time for the California State Forestry Department as a Foreman Fireman. In August of 1940 he married Alberta Martin in Yuma, Arizona.

Will Donaldson was a Fire Captain Specialist in the Riverside Unit. He retired in 1992 after 33 years of service.  His career started 1958 as a seasonal firefighter in Perris.  He was a survivor of the Decker Fire in 1959 in Lake Elsinore where six firefighters died. He promoted to Forest Fire Truck Driver in

Edward James Phillips of Porterville, CA was born on December 3, 1941 in Tulare CA. He passed away on December 9, 2019 at age 78, in Porterville, CA with his family by his side. Ed worked with the California Department of Forestry for 32 years, retired, then began a new adventure with his wife Claudia

Fred Benton passed away 12/21/19  in Siskiyou County, were he had been a resident for several years. Fred Benton retiring on or about December 1992 from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as SFR 1 (Battalion Chief) Sierra-Cascade Region II ECC Chief. Fred spent many year working in that capacity and was instrumental

John Griffin Carter was born June 3, 1950 in San Francisco and grew up there. He died of a massive heart attack early Thanksgiving morning, Nov 28, 2019.  He is thought to have suffered only a few minutes if at all. John graduated from Washington High School in 1968.  He took that summer off for a surfing

George Andrew Williams, 81, long-time resident of Fort Bragg, California, passed away on Sept. 9, 2019, at his home surrounded by family after an arduous battle with lung disease.George was born in Williams, California, on Nov. 13, 1937, to Robert and Dorothy (Pearson) Williams. His family moved to Woodland, California, in 1945, where he attended

Robert “Bob” F. Thomas, age 87, a resident of Siren passed away on Tuesday, September 24, 2019. Bob was born on May 19, 1932 in San Francisco, California to parents, Emanuel and Rose Thomas. Bob was raised on a cattle ranch.  As a boy, he went to a one room school up until the eighth

On October the 27th, 2019 Retired Fire Captain B – Aciano “Acie” Avila passed away in Orange County, CA. Captain Avila began his career with the Department of Forestry, and then transitioned to the newly formed Orange County Fire Department; then returned to CDF in Riverside County and completed a 30 year fire service career.

It is with sadness that I advise you that Retired RRU Division Chief, Bruce Cowie, passed away yesterday, October 31, 2019. I talked with his wife on the phone this morning and she advised that family is arriving in town today, and she will be meeting with us sometime in the future to discuss services.