Valley firefighters killed in the line of duty to be memorialized in Sacramento

Posted: Sep 26, 2019 / 11:35 PM PDT / Updated: Sep 26, 2019 / 11:40 PM PDT

A two-sided brushed limestone wall on which is inscribed the names of every firefighter who has died in the line of duty since California became a state. The wall is flanked by bronze statues of firefighter turnouts, the protective garments worn by firefighters in action.

SACRAMENTO, California (KSEE/KGPE) – Five local firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice will be honored this weekend in Sacramento as part of the annual California Firefighters Memorial ceremony.

The event will officially add 34 names to the more than 1,400 fallen California firefighters whose names already feature on the memorial.

The five from the Central Valley include Braden Varney from Mariposa County, who fell after battling the Ferguson Fire in 2018; Fresno City firefighters Sandra Keifert-Johanns, David Taylor and Oney Durney; and 30-year-old Keith Hernandez from Kings County, who passed this February.

The ceremony is open to the public and will also be live-streamed (click here to view). It’s taking place at the California Firefighters Memorial in Capitol Park, Sacramento. It starts at 11:30 a.m. and finishes at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

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