Memorial Service for Fallen Los Angeles County Firefighters

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On Saturday, September 12th, over 15,000 firefighters from across the United States and around the world gathered at Dodger's Stadium to pay their respects to fallen Los Angeles County firefighters, Captain Tedmund "Ted" Hall and Firefighter Specialist Arnaldo "Arnie" Quinones, in a moving memorial ceremony.

Captain Hall and Firefighter Quinones died on August 30, 2009 during the Station Fire, one of Los Angeles' largest wildfires in recorded history.  Both men were part of Camp 16 a male inmate firefighting camp, and while fighting the fire in the Angeles National Forest, the crew was forced to take cover.  Hall and Quinones found safe shelter for the 55 men in a cinder block dining hall, and were searching for an escape route for the crew, when the fire department vehicle they were driving plunged off of a road in the smoky air, falling approximately 800 feet, killing both men.

Ted Hall and Arnie Quinones had both worked with Camp 16 for several years.  The inmate firefighting program is operated in conjunction with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.  Captain Hall was assigned to the crew in 2001, and Firefighter Specialist Quinones joined the Los Angeles County Fire Department in 1998 as a Call Firefighter, becoming a Paid Firefighter in 2001.  He joined Camp 16 in 2005.

Several dignitaries were on hand at the memorial service including California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said, "Together we pay tribute to Ted and Arnie with a sense of duty to their courage in crisis and their sacrifice for Los Angeles and for all of California."

Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, was also one of the speakers at the service.  He said, "There is a saying that all men are created equal, but then a few become firefighters.  Well men like Ted and Arnie have few equals.  But what would you expect from Arnie Quinones, a guy who had a tattoo on his arm that said "First In Last Out"?  Thank God we have people like him for the rest of us."

The two men were also eulogized by those they worked with, including David Gillotte, the President of the Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014 and Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief P. Michael Freeman, who said, "As firefighters, Ted and Arnie knew the risks, but they were the best at what they did.  They could have worked in a fire station but they chose to lead others in our fire camps.  They were among the elite who fight wildfires up close and personal."

The service was attended by firefighters who came from all parts of the United States and around the world to pay their respects to the families of the fallen firefighters and to show support for their brothers and sisters of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.  Neil McKinnon of the Professional Firefighters Association came from Toronto, Canada with other firefighters from his region, saying, "It's just our way of showing support for the family, the Los Angeles County firefighters, and all the firefighters throughout the United States.  We come here, show our support, just show we care."

John Sarro of the Boston Fire Department echoed this, saying, "We always come to these events, and it means a lot because we've had plenty of our losses, so we just come and pay our respects.  We are all brothers.  That is what it comes down to."

Fire investigators have determined that the Station Fire was caused by arson, and so the deaths of Hall and Quinones have made the case a homicide investigation.  Ted Hall was from San Bernardino, California and is survived by his wife, Katherine, and sons, Randall, 21, and Steven, 20.  Arnie Quinones was from Palmdale, and is survived by his  wife Loressa, who is due to give birth to their child in the coming weeks.  According to Steve Zermeno, an Inspector with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, a memorial fund has been set up to assist both firefighters' families through the F & A Federal Credit Union.  Donations can be made for both families, combined or individually.

The Station Fire continues to burn in rough terrain, and 132 miles of fire line have been constructed.  Officials from the Los Angeles County Fire Department predict that full containment of the fire will be reached on September 19th.


Author:Barbara Brooks - FDNNTV.com