Oregon Public Broadcasting

The governor is asking that flags be flown at half-staff across Oregon Monday in honor of the death, last week, of a volunteer firefighter. Rob Manning has more.

Robert Hales had spent 12 hours fighting small wildfires in Columbia County, when he suffered a fatal heart problem while driving home.

His death on August 17th is considered “in the line of duty,” because he had just finished a fire-fighting shift.

Hales was the Scappoose Fire Department’s “Volunteer of the Year” in 2001, in just his second year battling blazes.

He’ll be honored today with a funeral procession, a service at Scappoose High School, and a reception at the county fairgrounds.

An executive order from Governor Ted Kulongoski helped deploy fire fighters from as far away as Albany to Scappoose, over the weekend, so that local firefighters could prepare for Monday’s ceremonies.

Hales was 40 years old. He leaves behind a wife, and three teenaged daughters.