Fire departments from across Arizona gather at Capitol to honor 14 killed in line of duty

Haleigh Kochanski, Arizona Republic
·3 min read

Fire departments from across Arizona gathered Sunday morning at the Arizona Fallen Firefighter and Emergency Paramedic Memorial to honor the families of 14 firefighters whose names were added to the memorial wall this year.

"We are back here at Wesley Bolin Plaza in this very special place in person, in solidarity, in one another's company," said Bryan Jeffries, president of Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona, at the event. "Fourteen lives. That's how many of our sisters and brothers we're here to add to these beautiful walls today."

The memorial event began at 10 a.m. and was hosted by Yuma Fire Department, which was selected to lead the Honor Guard portion of the program this year.

Along with each fire department came the family members and friends of the fallen firefighters whose names were memorialized on the wall. The 14 names added include former firefighters, paramedics, forest service personnel and others who died in 2020 and 2021.

"It's an amazing time to see how everybody comes together as fire departments throughout the state to honor these men and women who have given their lives in the course of their duty," said Cory Tolman, the Honor Guard Commander for Sunday's event. "We're also honoring the family members as well as the people who are on the wall."

An emotional Cory Tolman explains the significance of the "last alarm" during the Arizona Fallen Firefighters and Emergency Paramedics Memorial at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza in Phoenix, Ariz. on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022. The last alarm signifies fallen firefighters are "returning to quarters."
An emotional Cory Tolman explains the significance of the "last alarm" during the Arizona Fallen Firefighters and Emergency Paramedics Memorial at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza in Phoenix, Ariz. on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022. The last alarm signifies fallen firefighters are "returning to quarters."

Honoring first responders

The event started with a welcome address from Phoenix Fire Captain Gordon Cunningham, who said the memorial was officially dedicated in 2015 to honor fallen Arizona firefighters and emergency paramedics. As of 2022, there are 156 names engraved into the granite stone of the wall.

In 2017, the Arizona Legislature passed a bill that would establish a permanent memorial committee whose purpose is to maintain the memorial, determine inclusion criteria for which individuals can be memorialized, and conduct the annual Fallen Firefighter memorial service.

"My son's being put on the wall," said Amy Seets, who was in attendance at the event with her family. "I think it's a good way to honor all of the men who have sacrificed ... and to always remember everything first responders put on the line."

Cancer caused half of 2021 deaths

According to Jeffries, seven of the 14 people whose names were added to the wall died of cancer.

"Seven of the names we are here to honor, succumbed to cancer. I will tell you here at the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona, we will absolutely not rest until we can have the power to whittle this down to zero. That, I promise you," said Jeffries.

In 2021, Gov. Doug Ducey signed into legislation a bill that would make it easier for Arizona firefighters who get certain cancers to access workers' compensation benefits. The bill also added breast and ovarian cancer to the state's list of occupational cancers presumed to be caused by firefighting.

"For me, it's kind of bittersweet. My daughter was a Phoenix Firefighter," said Patrick Grimes. "She got cancer and so they lost her about eight years ago."

Others included Tommy Arriaga, who died in May 2020 of work-related cancer. He became a member of the Hazardous Materials Response Team in 2016 and served there until he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2019.

In November 2021, retired Mesa Fire Capt. Trevor Madrid died after a years-long fight with synovial sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that is found in soft tissue. A 14-year-veteran of the Fire Department, Madrid was diagnosed in March 2019.

In addition to cancer, COVID-19 caused the deaths of three firefighters who were memorialized Sunday.

Also included in the service were performances by United Yuma Fire Fighter's Honor Guard and Pipes and Drums.

Jeffries delivered a memorial address, which was then followed by a reading of all 156 names on the memorial.

Attendees bow their heads and listen as the names of 156 fallen firefighters who have died in Arizona since 1902 are read during the Arizona Fallen Firefighters and Emergency Paramedics Memorial at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza in Phoenix, Ariz. on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022. There were 14 names added to the list this year.
Attendees bow their heads and listen as the names of 156 fallen firefighters who have died in Arizona since 1902 are read during the Arizona Fallen Firefighters and Emergency Paramedics Memorial at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza in Phoenix, Ariz. on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022. There were 14 names added to the list this year.

"I think firefighters have a purpose, police officers have a purpose, everybody has a purpose," said Denise Olivas, who was in attendance at the event. "I just think it's awesome that they do this for the fallen."

The Memorial Event ended with the Firefighter Bell Ringing ceremony, taps, and closing remarks.

Reach breaking news reporter Haleigh Kochanski at hkochanski@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @HaleighKochans.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Memorial honors 14 Arizona firefighters killed in line of duty