Legislature votes to create firefighters memorial

OLYMPIA 3/1/2024 — Legislation to erect a memorial to firefighters who die in the line of duty was passed unanimously by the Senate.

Sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Lake Sutherland), the bill passed in the form of House companion legislation (HB 2091) and now goes to the governor to be signed into law.

The legislation provides for the memorial to be built and maintained on the campus of the state Capitol with funds from a non-appropriated account created to accept gifts and grants. On Tuesday, March 5, at 1 p.m., Washington State Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Hilary Franz will be joined by legislators, Fire Service advocates and other supporters at a press conference in Olympia to commemorate passage of legislation. The House version of the bill was requested by Franz and sponsored by Rep. Dan Bronoske (D-Lakewood).

"Honoring nearly 300 line-of-duty deaths since 1891, this memorial to all the volunteer and career firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice will resonate with families and firefighters all over our state,” said Bud Sizemore, legislative liaison for the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters. "Its presence on our state Capitol campus will provide visible and lasting recognition.”

Van De Wege said support for the memorial was inspired in part by the death of a coworker a year ago, on Jan. 12, 2023.

"I know people whose names will be on the memorial, so this means a lot to me personally, but its relevance touches every community in our state,” said Van De Wege, a career-long firefighter. "It’s hard for me to think of more important or rewarding work than the public safety of my neighbors, but for too many of my colleagues that service has come at a steep price.”