By Bill Carey
FireRescue1
MONTEREY, Calif. — The CAL FIRE San Benito-Monterey Unit announced the on-duty death of Fire Apparatus Engineer Christopher Ward on Aug. 29.
Ward began his career with CAL FIRE in June 2020 as a seasonal firefighter with the San Benito-Monterey Unit and was promoted in 2022 to serve as a fire apparatus engineer on the Pinnacles Fire Crew, KSBW reported.
A procession was held on Sept. 3 traveling on Highway 101 and passing through Salinas before ending at the Hollister Funeral Home.
Ward is survived by his wife, Faith, and their children, Rebeca and Evan. A private ceremony will be held in Hollister on Saturday to honor his life.
Trending
Police say a coordinated, all-hands effort led to the arrest of a convicted felon charged with killing Bridgeport Firefighter Terrence Cramer
The 2026 honorees include longtime volunteer Roger Beedy, health and safety advocate Frank Leeb, junior firefighter Grace Isakson and Plano Fire Explorers Post 215
Attorneys for survivors say the city is withholding critical Ground Zero exposure data despite previously uncovering dozens of boxes of related documents
Smyrna Fire Department’s recognition highlights simple, low-cost habits, from gear cleaning to post-fire showers, that help reduce exposure and protect long-term health