Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Hundreds Honor Fallen Firefighter In Santa Barbara County

(Los Padres National Forest photo)
Hundreds of people were on hand to honor fallen Los Padres National Forest firefighter Gary Helsing

Hundreds of firefighters, and other public safety workers said goodbye to a Santa Barbara County based firefighter who died in a traffic accident.

Family members, friends, and colleagues packed a Santa Maria church Wednesday to honor Los Padres National Forest Battalion Chief Gary Helming. The 47 year old firefighter died August 31st when he was returning home to the Central Coast after helping to battle a forest fire north of Fresno.

He was a firefighter for more than 20 years, and leaves behind a wife and three children.

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral. 
Related Stories