Two local firefighter will join more than a dozen others as they are added to the California Firefighters Memorial in Sacramento Saturday.
A “Last Alarm” bell ringing ceremony will mark the moment for Samuel Escalante, an investigator with the Chula Vista Fire Department (CVFD) and Michael James Hicks, a retired National City firefighter.
Escalante, 43, died of a heart attack June 21 while hiking with his family.
He was described as a “highly technical” and “very thorough” colleague by fellow Chula Vista firefighters.
Escalante had been working with the CVFD since February 2006 as the city’s first Fire Prevention Engineer. Prior to joining the department, he was a Fire Protection Engineer in the U.S. Navy.
Hicks, 70, died on April 23 after succumbing to the effects of cancer.
In his 30 years of service with the National City Fire Department, Hicks was known for best remember his calm, cool demeanor in even the most dangerous conditions.
The two men will join more than 1,250 fallen firefighters listed on the statewide memorial in the Capitol Park.
