Two Firefighters Killed in California Wildfires

by James Parks, Sep 4, 2009

Tedmund Hall
Arnaldo Quinones

Firefighters across the country are mourning the loss of two heroic Los Angeles firefighters who were killed while battling the wildfires raging in Southern California. 

Tedmund Hall and Arnaldo Quinones, both members of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 1014, died Aug. 30. It appears the two were in a truck searching for an escape route for corrections personnel and inmates of an area prison camp when their truck went over the side of a dirt road and fell 800 feet into a canyon.

Services for the firefighters will be Sept. 12 at Dodgers Stadium. 

IAFF President Harold Schaitberger says:

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hall and Quinones families. They made the ultimate sacrifice trying to save the lives of many others. Their heroic acts and dedication to duty will not be forgotten.”

Local 1014 President David Gillotte praised both men, saying:

“Brothers Hall and Quinones brought commitment, courage and honor to all that they touched as fire fighters and proud members of Local 1014.”

Gillotte says Hall, 47, was a frequent participant in union activities and dedicated many hours of service to protecting the prison camp. Quinones, 35, was “a rising star in the department and in our local, and was one of those genuinely good guys that you always want to have in your corner,” Gillotte adds.

Hall is survived by his wife, Katherine, sons Randall and Steven, and parents, Roland Ray and Donna Marie Hall.

Quinones is survived by his wife, Loressa, who is expecting their first child in the next several weeks, and his mother, Sonia Quinones.

Hall and Quinones were among the more than 5,000 fire service personnel working to contain the wildfires that have already charred more than 122,000 acres and destroyed more than 50 structures in the state.

Thousands of residents have been evacuated, and firefighters in the field report the combination of tough terrain and unrelenting weather conditions has made the fires difficult to contain. Temperatures have remained near 100 degrees and winds are blowing as high as 30 miles per hour.

Print This Article | E-Mail This Article |Comments (1)