Oregon Public Broadcasting

Firefighters from around the state gathered at a memorial site outside Salem Thursday to honor their fellows who have died in the line of duty.

The memorial features a granite wall with the names of 159 Oregon firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty since 1881.  Pete Springer was there.

Michael Wheelock knows all too well what it’s like to lose firefighters.

Michael Wheelock “On the morning of August 6th, 2008, we received a call every leader in public service hopes and prays will never receive.”

Wheelock is president of Grayback Forestry. The southern Oregon  company contracts out firefighters for wildland fires.

Seven of his employees plus a pilot lost their lives last month in a helicopter crash fighting a wildfire in California.

Wheelock says he was recently looking through a newspaper and ran across a photo of a soldier in Iraq.

Michael Wheelock “By the look on his solemn face, he obviously lost some soldiers underneath his command.  He had that look that I was oh too familiar with.  It was the look of deep sorrow, bewilderment, and fear.”

Wheelock went on to describe the struggle he’s faced this past month grieving and accepting the loss of his fellow wildland firefighters.

Every name on the memorial wall has a similar story and grieving faces behind it.

Nine Oregon firefighters have died this year in the line of duty. 

The wall is based on a national memorial for fallen firefighters in Maryland. 

Wreathes were laid to honor the dead, while bagpipers played a tribute.

The names of all one hundred fifty-nine firefighters were read before a bell sounded what's known as "the last alarm" for fallen firefighters.

Joseph O’Leary is the state’s senior policy advisor for public safety.

Joseph O’Leary: “Each of these individuals was bravely serving their neighbors.  Locally as in the case of the Scappoose rural fire district, and across state lines as in the case of the Grayback firefighters assisting with the Iron 44 fire in the state of California.  For all of them today, the bell must toll.”