SALEM, Ore. — A ceremony held Tuesday, June 17 commemorated Oregon fire service who have died in the line of duty. The Oregon Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial Ceremony honored the brave individuals who gave their lives to protect communities and natural resources around the state.
The annual event is held at the Oregon Public Safety Academy, site of the Oregon Fire Fighters Memorial. The memorial commemorates 182 fire service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice since 1881, including career, volunteer, wildland and structural fire fighters.
Tuesday’s ceremony remembered three fallen fire service members whose names were recently added to the memorial: Benjamin Sapper of the U.S. Forest Service, Nicholas Berg of Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire Protection District, and Larry Dean of Salem Fire Department.
In his keynote address, Chief Benjamin Stange of Polk County Fire District #1 spoke of the enduring legacies of the firefighters whose names are engraved on the wall, ensuring their survivors that they will never be forgotten, and their memories will be synonymous with service and sacrifice.
“Their names will be used to send greater messages, to communicate commitment, to set expectations, and to inspire,” he said. “I promise you this: their service, their impact, their inspiration to the fire service will continue.”
Firefighter Benjamin Charles Sapper was killed in an on-duty vehicle accident near Powers on Aug. 4, 2023. Firefighter Sapper was a first-year firefighter working on the Gold Beach Ranger District hand crew for the Forest Service. Originally from Boulder, Colorado, 21-year-old Firefighter Sapper had recently obtained his bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics and was looking forward to starting graduate school at the University of British Columbia.
Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire Protection District Division Chief Nicholas “Nick” Berg passed away in his home on June 6, 2024 after assisting in setting up a draft site on his private farm for a drill night training session the night before. Division Chief Berg was a loyal Mist-Birkenfeld RFPD volunteer for 47 years and leaves behind his wife, Ann, four children, four grandchildren, as well as his sister and many nieces and nephews.
Retired Salem Fire Department Captain Larry Dean died on Sept. 13, 2024, after battling occupational esophageal cancer. Captain Dean served with the Salem Fire Department from 1987 to 2018, during which time he worked on several specialty teams and held various leadership roles. He is survived by his wife, Kaare, his three children, two grandchildren, mother, sister, and two brothers.
The ceremony was attended by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and public safety professionals from throughout the state. Governor Kotek spoke in tribute to the fallen, heralding their service and sacrifice and acknowledging the grief felt by those they left behind.
“Let us hold their surviving family members, friends, and colleagues in our hearts and thoughts and prayers,” she said. “We should share their stories every opportunity that we have, because to do so allows their spirits and stories to live on and serve as inspiration to all of us.”
The ceremony is a significant event that the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) hosts annually in partnership with the Oregon Fire Service Honor Guard. For more information on the Oregon Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial, including the names of the fallen, history of the memorial, and the Oregon Fire Service Honor Guard’s involvement, please visit DPSST’s Oregon Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial website at https://www.oregon.gov/dpsst/Memorials/Firefighters/Pages/default.aspx.
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