health & safety firegeezer on 04 Jul 2008 09:49 am
63-yr.-old Recruit FF Dies At Wildfire
IN MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, ROBERT ROLAND, AGE 63, joined the Anderson Valley Vol. Fire Department 3 months ago.
Because of his age, the retired businessman was assigned non-strenuous tasks such as maintenance, fundraising and traffic control. But with 100 fires burning in the forests of Mendocino, he was out in the firelines serving as a lookout. While on post, he assisted in laying some hose lines up the roadway and suffered what is believed to have been a heart attack.
After transportation to the Ukiah hospital, he died at 4 am Thursday morning. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued public condolences to his family. “I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Volunteer Firefighter Recruit Bob Roland, who courageously lost his life while protecting his community from the threat of fire,” the statement read.
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat has the full STORY.
