Douglas County Honors Firefighters And Remembers Fallen Firefighters During Proclamation Ceremony

Douglas County Commissioners honored the men and women of the fire service this week with a proclamation recognizing April 26 through May 2, 2026, as Firefighter Appreciation & Fallen Firefighter Memorial Week in Douglas County.

Commissioners Tom Kress, Chris Boice, and Tim Freeman issued the proclamation during their Weekly Business Meeting, recognizing firefighters across the county and pausing to remember 20 fallen firefighters with ties to Douglas County, dating back to 1951.

Commissioner Kress presented the proclamation on behalf of the Board of Commissioners, acknowledging the courage, professionalism, and sacrifice shown by firefighters who respond to fires, hazardous materials incidents, medical emergencies, natural disasters, and other crises. The proclamation also recognized the work firefighters do outside of emergency response, including prevention, training, education, community outreach, and fire safety programs.

The ceremony honored firefighters serving in many roles across Douglas County, including career, volunteer, wildland, and structural firefighters, along with chief officers, company officers, battalion chiefs, engineers, lieutenants, captains, fire marshals, public information officers, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and fire office personnel.

After the proclamation was read, Kress asked those gathered to take time to honor Douglas County’s fallen firefighters.

“We also dedicate today to the memory of our fallen firefighters who selflessly gave their lives for our communities,” Kress said. “We do this to honor them and make sure that they are never forgotten.”

According to the county, officials researched local agency records, along with state and national archives, and identified 20 fallen firefighters from Douglas County.

Chief Rob Bullock and Deputy Chief Scott Richardson of Central Douglas Fire & Rescue, Assistant Chief Dave Newquist of the Roseburg Fire Department, and District Manager Pat Skrip of the Douglas Forest Protective Association were invited to the podium for the memorial portion of the ceremony.

Newquist read the Fireman’s Prayer. Skrip then read the names of the 20 fallen firefighters, including Sutherlin Battalion Chief Mike Merlino, who was added to the list after his passing in 2025.

Bullock recited “Last Alarm,” a poem written by Jim Martinez, a longtime member of the International Association of Fire Fighters. Richardson then sounded the ceremonial bell, ringing it five times in three sets, following a fire service tradition used to honor those who gave their lives in the line of duty.

Kress also asked for a moment of silence.

Douglas County Fallen Firefighters Remembered

• Jerry Bain, Douglas Forest Protective Association, 1951
• Roy W. McFarland, Roseburg Fire Department, Roseburg, 1959
• John J. Richards, Douglas Forest Protective Association, 1961
• Richard Underhill, Douglas Forest Protective Association, 1979
• Elwin I. King, Fair Oaks Fire Department, Sutherlin, 1984
• Mark Giles, Douglas Forest Protective Association, 1987
• James Moore, Douglas Forest Protective Association, 1987
• Russell Brine, Elkton Rural Fire District, Elkton, 1987
• Julius C. Starr, USDA Forest Service, Roseburg Office, 1990
• Clark N. Gilkison, Fair Oaks Fire Department, Sutherlin, 1991
• Rob Johnson, Prineville Hot Shots, South Canyon Fire in Colorado, 1994
• Paul E. Gibson, First Strike Environmental, Roseburg, Oregon Department of Forestry contractor, 2003
• David Kelly Hammer, First Strike Environmental, Roseburg, Oregon Department of Forestry contractor, 2003
• Jeffrey D. Hengel, First Strike Environmental, Roseburg, Oregon Department of Forestry contractor, 2003
• Jesse D. James, First Strike Environmental, Roseburg, Oregon Department of Forestry contractor, 2003
• Richard Burt Moore II, First Strike Environmental, Roseburg, Oregon Department of Forestry contractor, 2003
• Leland “David” Price Jr., First Strike Environmental, Roseburg, Oregon Department of Forestry contractor, 2003
• Mark Robert Ransdell, First Strike Environmental, Roseburg, Oregon Department of Forestry contractor, 2003
• Ricardo M. Ruiz, First Strike Environmental, Roseburg, Oregon Department of Forestry contractor, 2003
• Mike Merlino, Sutherlin Fire Department, Sutherlin, 2025

Commissioner Freeman then presented proclamation certificates to fire agencies and personnel from across the county.

Those recognized included:

• Central Douglas Fire & Rescue: Chief Rob Bullock, Deputy Chief Scott Richardson, Ben Matthews, Jeff Cole, Lenny Coopride, and Shawn Roberts.
• Winston-Dillard Fire District: Chief Rob Bullock.
• North Douglas Fire & EMS: Deputy Chief Travis Terry and Deputy Chief E. Guisto.
• Roseburg Fire Department: Assistant Chief Dave Newquist.
• Fair Oaks Rural Fire District: Greg Mock, Dave Hopkins, Michael Wighton, and Tom Yanitor.
• Glide Rural Fire District: Chief Ted Damewood and Assistant Chief Chip Clough.
• Douglas Forest Protective Association: District Manager Pat Skrip, Paul Rutter, Adam Sinkey, and Ken Cannon.
• Cow Creek Tribal Fire Management: Chief Monte Bryan, Brennen Pettibone, Kyle Reed, Nathan Lawrence, Austin Berry, Blain Olbaca, Kacey Benefiel, Azpyn Roberts, Tray Babikoff, Marshall Hasikell, and Riley McCallister.

Several fire leaders also spoke during the ceremony, sharing what the recognition meant to them and reflecting on the sacrifices made by firefighters and their families.

Bullock said firefighters give deeply to the communities they serve, often sacrificing time with loved ones and personal time, even when the sacrifice is not their life.

“Being a firefighter is a lifestyle, not just a job,” Bullock said. “Everybody here gives everything they can to the people we serve.”

Deputy Chief Travis Terry of North Douglas Fire & EMS said his agency includes both paid and volunteer staff, and he emphasized the important role of volunteers and their families.

“It’s great to see the volunteer side of the organization and how much they contribute, not only for them, but how much their families support the time and effort they put in,” Terry said. “We appreciate the honor given today for the sacrifices we make for our communities.”

Chief Monte Bryan of Cow Creek Tribal Fire Management said the department began operations in 2023 and has worked over the last three years to become a full-capacity fire department serving both the tribal community and the community at large.

Bryan said the fire service depends on people who are willing to respond at all hours.

“I think it is important that we have people that wake up in the middle of the night to protect us while we sleep,” Bryan said.

Following the ceremony, Ken Cannon, a board member with Douglas Forest Protective Association, spoke on behalf of DFPA and presented the commissioners with a letter of thanks signed by the full DFPA Board of Directors, a certificate of recognition, and challenge coins.

Cannon said Douglas County’s support has helped DFPA continue its mission of protecting life, resources, and property through prevention and fire suppression. He said the partnership between the county and DFPA has helped the agency remain ready to protect 1.6 million acres under its care, a mission it has carried out for 114 years.

Cannon said the challenge coins were presented as symbols of honor, shared values, and appreciation for the commissioners’ support of DFPA and service to the community.

As part of the week of recognition, the exterior lights of the Douglas County Courthouse are being turned red from April 26 through May 2. The gesture is part of Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters, an effort created in 2017 by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to honor fallen firefighters.

The county said the red lights are intended as a tribute to Douglas County’s 20 fallen firefighters, their families, and fallen fire heroes across the nation.

Freeman closed the ceremony by thanking fire personnel for their daily work across the county. He said local fire agencies are often already on scene when the county responds to fires and other emergencies, offering reassurance through their presence and response.

Freeman also shared a personal story, saying his own path into public service was shaped by a fire response years ago, when Roseburg firefighters responded to a fire at his home while he was out of town and saved his wife and children.

“In times like that you realize what is truly important,” Freeman said. “Nothing else matters more than family. Thank you for all you do.”

The county said the proclamation is meant to remind residents to thank fire heroes, past and present, for their faithful service and devotion to Douglas County communities.

The full release can be found here and the video presentation can be found below: