There’s shock and sadness in the public safety community on the Central and South Coasts, following the death of a Ventura County firefighter who was helping to fight Santa Barbara County’s Canyon brush fire.
The CHP is still trying to determine exactly what happened.
A water tanker based in Ventura County, with two Ventura County firefighters on board overturned just after six this morning on Highway 246 and Purisma Road, just northeast of Lompoc.
Ryan Osler, an 18 year veteran of the Ventura County Fire Department, died when the tanker ended up on its side.
Captain Ron Oatman, with the Ventura County Fire Department, says everyone is still in shock over the news. He says Osler, who was married and the father of two, was a second generation firefighter. Osler’s father Ralph was also an engineer with the Department.
Firefighters set up memorials on Highway 101 overpasses as Osler’s body was returned from Santa Barbara to Ventura County Wednesday afternoon. There’s no word yet on funeral plans.
The second firefighter in the tanker escaped with minor injuries.
