Tribute to honor community's firefighters

BONNERS FERRY — Every October, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation sponsors a national tribute to all firefighters who died in the line of duty during the previous year. The survivors of the fallen and thousands of fire service members gather for the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland, to honor the lives and sacrifices of these heroes.

“Firefighters possess an extraordinary blend of courage and compassion which allows them to willingly face tremendous risks to help those in need,” said Chief Dennis Compton, chairman of the NFFF Board of Directors. “Each fall, we gather to reflect on the sacrifices of those who died in the line of duty and to let their families, friends and co-workers know they will never be forgotten.”

Community residents are invited to join the NFFF, the U.S. Fire Service, Boundary County Chaplain Corps, and Boundary County fire service agencies in honoring the lives of 79 firefighters who died nationwide in the line of duty in 2015 and 33 firefighters who died in previous years during a local memorial service held on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 9, at 2 p.m. at Station 1 downtown.

Although the number of firefighters honored this year is higher than in recent years, the number of line-of-duty deaths that occurred in 2015 is actually lower. The increase reflects the new ruling that Public Safety Officer Benefits recognize deaths caused by illnesses from Sept. 11 as line-of-duty. This year, the names of 22 FDNY members who died before 2015 and two who died in 2015 from 9/11-related illnesses will be added to the memorial.

It is a time-honored tradition to ring bells during funerals and memorial services for firefighters. Here in Bonners Ferry, a parade of fire apparatus will lead to City Fire’s Main Station downtown at 2 p.m. on that Sunday afternoon to ring the fire house bells, reflect, read the list of those that lost their lives in the fire service last year, and encourage the living.

Everyone is invited to attend. Providence Bible Presbyterian Church is the official church sponsor of this event through the Bells Across America for Fallen Firefighters program, and all area churches are encouraged to participate by ringing their church bells at some time during the Oct. 8-9 weekend. More information about the Bells Across America program may be found online at

http://www.firehero.org/events/memorial-weekend/about/bells-across-america/.

For more information about our local remembrance, or to volunteer to assist with the event, please contact City Fire Chaplain Len Pine at 208-267-3327.