Furmencio Ruiz Carapia of Medford, Oregon

“Frumencio was a very cheerful person, a person who liked to joke around. He loved his job and working outdoors. He migrated to the United States in 1985. Frumencio died on August 23, 2021, in a line-of-duty accident at age 56. He was a wildland firefighter for over 20 years.” -Fallen Firefighters Foundation

Furmencio was a son, a brother, a father, and soon to be a grandfather. I had the personal pleasure of knowing and training under him. He was a beloved member of the community. One of nicest people I have met. I was there when we received the call of his fatality. I remember I had just came out of an engine call and was there with the company owner as he received the call. It seemed as if the world had stopped in that moment and everything changed. I know it affected the company and the community deeply. His loss will remain in our hearts and never be forgotten.