Firefighters Who Lost Their Lives To Suicide Remembered In Tri-Valley

PLEASANTON, CA — Red emergency lights on fire engines and trucks at all stations across Livermore, Pleasanton and Dublin were activated Friday night to raise awareness and pay homage to firefighters who have taken their own lives due to a work-related mental health crisis. On May 19, thousands of firefighters across the state observed the somber moment of silence at 9 p.m. as part of the first “We Remember Night” to help eliminate the stigma of mental health issues among those in the fire service.

Arizona-based Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance is working to compile mental health statistics for those in fire service and to help connect local firefighters with behavioral health resources, while they raise awareness and offer intervention as firefighter suicides steadily increase.

In December of 2016, a firefighter with 16 years of fire service in Orange County, tragically jumped to his death from the overpass at the Interstate 5. It was still unclear what prompted the captain to jump from the overpass.

Fire service employees seeking help for behavioral health issues are encouraged to call 1-888-731-FIRE (3473).

Photo courtesy Livermore-Pleasanton Fire BC