By Amber Sandhu
The Redding Record Searchlight
REDDING, Calif. — Firefighters and community members gathered Thursday morning along Shasta Drive over Highway 44 to pay tribute to fallen firefighter David “Dave” Ruhl, as his body was transported to the Redding Municipal Airport.
Ruhl, an engine captain from Rapid City, South Dakota, died of smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning while fighting the Frogg Fire in Modoc National Forest, where he was on temporary assignment. Ruhl went missing July 31, and his body was discovered the next morning.
A procession featuring fire vehicles from various fire agencies escorted his body from Mount Shasta to the Redding Municipal Airport, where his family received his body in a private ceremony. Along the route that wound from southbound Interstate 5 to eastbound Highway 44, firefighters and others lined up atop overpasses to pay tribute to Ruhl.
Darlene Yarber of Anderson was one of the attendees who stood atop the overpass at Shasta Drive over Highway 44 to pay her respect. Tears rolled down her eyes as she explained her personal connection to firefighters. Her nephew is a firefighter for Shasta Lake and her best friend works for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
“If somebody that I loved had given everything, I would hope that wherever they were being taken, somebody would give them that respect,” she said.
It was only fitting for her to pay tribute and show gratitude for the people she says “save babies and slay dragons” and put their lives on the line so that people in the community are safe and secure every night.
“He paid the ultimate price to protect people here,” she said about Ruhl.
Yarber’s friend, Kelly Brooks, knew how important it was to show up.
“If it were my family member, I’d want the community to show support. They get up and do a job that is very selfless,” she said about the firefighters.
Redding firefighters stood atop their trucks and saluted the passing vehicles during the procession.
Forest Prevention Officer at Klamath National Forest Johanna D’Arcy also came by to pay her respects.
“It’s a day of respect,” she said. “It’s a day of honoring Dave and his memory, and saying goodbye.”
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(c)2015 the Redding Record Searchlight (Redding, Calif.)
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