Fallen firefighters remembered for their courage [Updated]

 

Los Angeles County Fire Department Captains Rudy Gilson and Tedmund "Ted" Hall, above left, ate breakfast together while they were battling the recent Morris fire in Angeles National Forest.

Over scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit and coffee they would talk about the behavior of the fire and their tactics to defeat it. They would also talk about their families, and that's what Gilson said he will always remember about Hall.

"He spent every free moment with his family, with his immediate family or extended family," Gilson said of Hall. "Camping, get-togethers, motorcycle riding, anything outdoors," he said.

Hall, 47, died yesterday along with 34-year-old Arnaldo Quinones, above right, when they drove off the side of a treacherous road in the Mt. Gleason area, south of Acton.

[Updated 9:40 p.m.: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that Quinones was 35.]

"He lived life to the fullest, he enjoyed his work and his home," Gilson said, adding that Hall was married and had two children.

A spokeswoman for the Hall family, who identified herself only as Sharon, echoed those sentiments. She said that Hall's two sons are now in their 20s and that Hall was "a great family man."

Meanwhile, city, county and state leaders expressed sadness over Quinones and Hall's deaths.

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) said the Assembly today would adjourn in honor of Hall and Quinones. She said it was "in honor of the heroic sacrifice that Fire Captain Tedmund Hall and firefighter Specialist Arnaldo Quinones made yesterday performing the duties they loved -- duties that protected the lives and homes of countless others."

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also issued statements about the two firemen's deaths. "This tragic news reminds us all of the real danger these brave men and women face every day," Villaraigosa said. Funeral arrangements are still pending.

-- Ari B. Bloomekatz

Comments

[RealNeil]

Firefighters and Policemen go to work each day knowing that they face ultimate dangers and that the worst could happen. Such is the sacrifice that the public all too often takes for granted.
My condolences to the families of both of these fine men.
Politicians please remember days like this when you're trying to beat down raises for our emergency personnel. They deserve every penny that they bring home and more.

[susan]

Hail to these fallen heroes and prayers for their families and loved ones.

[Greg Eastom]

I had the honor and privilage to work with these two men at the start of the year at camp 16 Mount Gleason.
My heart hurts for the familys and co-workers of these two men and their ultimate sacrifice.
God Bless them and RIP...

[lah]

While the death of these two firefighters is undeniably very tragic, I'm not sure they died as "heroes." The sketchy news reports indicate their vehicle left the road and plunged down a cliff, but offer no clue as to why. This could have been a simple traffic accident, albeit under unusual circumstances.

I'm an ex-firefighter and ex-cop and, while I certainly did one or two heroic things during my service, neither I nor anyone else should be considered a hero simply for putting on the uniform.

[Racheal Greene]

I noticed most of the article focuses on Cpt "Ted Hall," but I would also like to mention that The Specialist Firefighter, Arnaldo Quinones, was a soon-to-be dad. His wife is expected to give birth soon. I felt the need to put it out there not because I want people to feel sorry for his wife but because she can use all the support she can get. Her husband gave his life fighting a fire that has no end in sight, he was out there saving our communities, saving homes, saving families, and the least we can do is pray for his and his unborn child, to ask God that he gives his wife the strength she needs to carry on and care for their baby.

He deserves as much black ink as the captain.

[Maria]

I knew Ted very well....what a nice man. He loved Kathy and his boys. He was a very hard working, family man who enjoyed life and the outdoors. What a sad thing to happen to such a wonderful family.

[Miranda Brown]

From what I understand, these men and a lot of the other firefighters are going on an average of 3 hrs. of sleep. This tragedy is horrible and my heart goes out to their families. These men and women fighting the fires need adequate rest and sleep to prevent accidents like this from happening! They are both heroes and will be remembered in our prayers. And I second the comment by RealNeil.

[Lexi Zamrzla]

Arnie was a great man and great firefighter. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew him. My thoughts and prayers go out to both families.

[Melaine Samson]

Umm.. they drove off a road. They didn't die fighting the fire.

[kp in az]

Thank you to these men who gave their lives for the greater good.

[kat]

Regarding Melanie's comment below: their accident is directly related to the fire. I was up there this weekend and the smoke is unbelievable. The smoke most likely obstructed their view.

[Bob Rucker]

RE: Melaine Samson's Post

Your comment is disgusting and show's your ignorance of the facts. Yes, they drove off the road but did so while trying to avoid being over run by extreme fire activity and smoke that no doubt reduced visibility to near zero. These men are hero's and deserve the respect and honors that are owed for their sacrifice.

While you were busy making insensitive comments, thousands of brave men and women are placing themselves in harms way to save lives and property for people they don't even know. I am amazed that our firefighters are willing to confront walls of flame 80 to 100 feet tall in order to save property knowing the potential risks. There are all to many memorials to firefighters that have perished during wildland fires. I speak from experience having lost my brother to the San Diego Cedar Fire in 2003. My heart goes out to the families and fellow firefighters for this terrible loss.

[JRZ]

In response to commentor "lah".

The two men died while searching for a safe escape route for 55 prison inmates who were working the fire lines. The fire spread to their camp and while the crew took shelter in a concrete structure, the two firefighters got into a truck and drive into blinding smoke in order to search for a way to get the other men out. That's about as heroic as it gets.

[Kazuko Olson]

Their courage and sacrifice will never been forgotten. Thank you for fighting for the brave fight for the rest of us. We'll forever be grateful.
My heart goes out to their families and friends.

[Cesar Martinez]

Wow, I can't beleive such tragedy had to happen to these great men. I will be horrified if I knew that a family member to me die for act of heroism. The goverment need to aknwoledge that no cuts should be perform to police officers, and firefighters. Rest in peace to the two heroes of Los Angeles Firefighters.

[Bonnie O'Connell]

In response to Melaine Sampsons' comment- firefighting involves much more than putting the wet stuff on the hot & glowing red stuff!

[Devistated]

Thank you to everyone that has left condolences
and wonderful coments.
I am a friend of the Hall family. Please show some respect when you are writing About the Fallen Fire Fighters on this post. Ted and Kathy’s sons might read these things. THIS IS THEIR FATHER THAT YOU ARE SAYING INSENSITIVE THINGS ABOUT! If you really need to say something negative, please email it to a friend and do not post it here. WE LOVED HIM VERY MUCH AND ARE DEVISTATED AND IN SHOCK. PLEASE RESPECT OUR WISHES AND HIS MEMORY.

Please show respect when you are saying anything about Ted or Arnie; both of them died a horrible death and both of their families have family members that read articles on the accident. Please think about this before you write something that could be hurtful to a Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, Son, Daughter, Grandparent, Wife, Aunt, Uncle, Cousin, etc….you may have thick skin but not everyone else does.

Thank you for respecting A Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Grandson, Nephew, Cousin, Friend, and Co-worker

[Jim Perry]

I join with all firefighters and the citizens of Los Angeles County in the tragic loss of Fire Captain "Ted" Hall and Specialist Firefighter, Arnaldo Quinones.

I am particularly appalled at the hypocritical statements of sorrow and loss by Mayor Villaraigosa and some of his political ploy boys at Los Angeles City Hall.

In less than one month after cutting the staffing and closing fire companies in Los Angeles he has "temporarily" reversed his political and ill-advised decision to place all firefighters and the citizens in danger.

As was said by the firefighters themselves, "it is not a question of IF, but WHEN we would start losing lives."

Shame on Villaraigosa, Councilman Greig Smith and any of the other elected officials who have foregone any right to represent the citizens of Los Angeles.

They are what is wrong with government.

[JEK in Hollyweird]

First - my sincerest condolences to the families, friends and certainly, the co-workers of these two HERO firefighters. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE and thanks to all the men & women of the fire service and other emergency agencies who are putting their life on the line for all residents throughout California.

Yes, I said HERO which is exactly what they are! These people who have posted that they are not because they drove off the road and died in the subsequent vehicle rollover obviously have NO CLUE what it takes to be a firefighter and clearly, clearly HAVE NOT walked a mile in their shoes.

Until you have "been there & done that" - I politely suggest you keep your un-informed, baseless, trivial opinion to yourselves.

Special note to LAH: Im sure we can all 'guess' why you're an "ex-firefighter and ex-cop", obviously didn't make the grade! ....since you offered no clue as to why. ;)

[Xavier Marshall]

God Bless the familys.And all the brave MEN and WOMEN working to save homes and lives in this FIRE.

[Mary Oliver]

These two guys are heroes when they put on their uniform and are ready to help anyone in trouble, sometimes putting their lives in danger. My son died in a motorcyle accident, he was a firemedic, he was honored as a hero ..I can't believe some of the comments posted that these two guys weren't heroes. They need to walk a few steps in their shoes!!!!!!!!

[Zee]

Please post the preferred organization to donate to to help the families of the fallen firefighters.

[Rob]

In Response to LAH....
There is clearly a reason why you are an ex-firefighter and ex-cop. You forsake those two men who were absolutely heroes. They were putting themselves directly in the path of the fire to save the 55 inmates and 2 Type I engine crews that were at Camp 16. Maybe you should try educating yourself before you starting talking out of your rear-end. Rest in Peace Ted and Arnie.

[Kathleen]

How heartless and cruel can you be Melaine Samson? Were they not on that road to fight a fire.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Umm.. they drove off a road. They didn't die fighting the fire.

Posted by: Melaine Samson | August 31, 2009 at 08:49 PM

[Heather O'Regan]

Melanie,

Your comment is the most insensitive disgusting thing I have ever read. People like you make me ill. Did you ever stop to consider that maybe family members of these HEROES might be scouring the internet to try to find just a little bit of peace and comfort that might be in stranger's words such as the majority of the comments that were left?? Well guess what you moron, they are. The only reason I am even wasting my time responding to you is because his family, in what is just the beginning of suffering immense devastation and shock, is now even more burdened by YOUR unenlightened ignorant words. I think you will find that your assinine comment could not be more off in this situation as you will see when the facts come out. You should be ashamed of yourself.