Former Moraga Fire Chief Ed Lucas Dead at 76

Ed Lucas, a lifelong resident of Lamorinda and chief of the Moraga Fire Department from 1986 to 1991, died on Monday, June 11 after an extended illness. He was 76.

Daughter Dina Fiorio was with her father at his passing, parked in the family car during a doctor's visit, and she witnessed the deep respect many Lamorindans -- firefighters and civilian alike -- held for her dad when a responding fire crew refused to leave him after his passing.

"It was like they were standing guard over him," she said Wednesday. "They just wouldn't leave him."

Ed Lucas was born to Daniel and Eugenia Davilla Lucas on May 14, 1936. He grew up in Orinda, attended Acalanes High and in 1959 he joined the then Eastern Contra Costa County Fire Protection District -- stationed in Moraga.

He served as a fire inspector, later as a captain, then as an assistant chief before taking the helm of the Moraga Fire Protection District as its chief in 1986.

His first days in the fire service were "fly by the seat of your pants" experiences, and he once talked about his first day on the job protecting Moraga -- mostly pear and walnut orchards at the time -- from fire.

"When I walked into Station Two, on my first morning at work, the fireman on duty said he'd see me the next day... and left," he once told a reporter. "There I was, alone with a fire truck, no instructions, no training."

If a fire broke out in Moraga in those days the siren yelped and a fire truck charged out of Station One, at the Old Moraga Ranch -- and made a quick stop at the Moraga Barn to pick up Art Fleuti and any other volunteer fireman who were there.

His may have been a small department but his pride in them could not be measured, and Lucas often ticked off their record: no major commercial fire in 20 years, only one life lost -- that of a heroic Shell Refinery employee who was burned in the Canyon Fire of 1969 and who later died of his injuries.

Lucas leaves his wife of nearly 56 years, Carole, along with his children: son Greg and partner Cindy Jarvis of Danville, Greg's two daughters, Ashlee Lucas and her fiance Dane Blom of Roseville, and Chelsea Lucas of Walnut Creek; his daughter, Dina Fiorio and son-in-law Danny of Gilroy and their three daughters, Hannah, Zoe and Bailey Fiorio; and his son, Steve and daughter-in-law, Darla, of Orinda and their three children, Daniel, Lindsey and Ben Lucas.

He is also survived by his brother, Larry, of Antioch, his sister, Janet (Bill) Kentnor of Washington and his brother, Dennis (Shirley), of Arizona, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family said that cremation will be private. Everyone is invited to join Ed's family at a celebration of his life at the Moraga County Club, 1600 St. Andrews Drive, in Moraga on Monday, July 2 at 1 p.m. Donations in his memory to any one of the following charities would be appreciated by his family: Rescue One Foundation, 1280 Moraga Way, Moraga, 94556; St. Jude's Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-0050; the American Heart Association or a charity of your choice.