Trending Topics

Procession honors fallen Calif. firefighter

CAL FIRE Fire Apparatus Engineer Christopher Ward suffered a medical emergency while on duty

By Bill Carey
FireRescue1

MONTEREY, Calif. — The CAL FIRE San Benito-Monterey Unit announced the on-duty death of Fire Apparatus Engineer Christopher Ward on Aug. 29.

Ward began his career with CAL FIRE in June 2020 as a seasonal firefighter with the San Benito-Monterey Unit and was promoted in 2022 to serve as a fire apparatus engineer on the Pinnacles Fire Crew, KSBW reported.

A procession was held on Sept. 3 traveling on Highway 101 and passing through Salinas before ending at the Hollister Funeral Home.

Ward is survived by his wife, Faith, and their children, Rebeca and Evan. A private ceremony will be held in Hollister on Saturday to honor his life.

Trending
The blast occurred at the Sheriff’s Enforcement Bureau compound; preliminary information indicates the explosion happened while personnel were handling explosives
The fire police officer was charged after allegedly following a woman, activating emergency lights and confronting her with a radio during a traffic dispute
The search uncovered an engine registered to the “Santa Muerte Fire Department,” which does not exsist
The 2025 Pat Tillman Award for Service acknowledged the commitment and selflessness of two L.A. firefighters who faced “apocalyptic” wildfire conditions