Legislation to erect a memorial to firefighters who die in the line of duty was passed today by the Senate State Government & Elections Committee.
SB 5946 would build and maintain the memorial with funds from a non-appropriated account created to accept gifts and grants.
“Since the first recorded line-of-duty death in 1891, there have been just over 300 line-of-duty deaths,” said Bud Sizemore, legislative liaison for the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters. “It’s overdue to have a place on campus for volunteer and career firefighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and I know their families will appreciate it.”
Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Lake Sutherland), the bill’s sponsor and a career-long firefighter, said his proposal was inspired in part by the death of a coworker a year ago, on Jan. 12, 2023.
“This is important to me personally – I know people whose names will be on the memorial – but more broadly, it is a long-overdue acknowledgement of the service and sacrifices of firefighters in communities across our state,” Van De Wege said. “I’ve been fortunate. I’ve enjoyed a long career as a firefighter and managed to come through it unscathed. Others aren’t so lucky.”
SB 5946 calls for the memorial to be built on the campus of the state Capitol.
