Local volunteer firefighter dies

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Local volunteer firefighter dies

Flags at the Anderson Valley Volunteer Fire Department flew at half-staff Thursday in honor volunteer firefighter Bob Roland who died early Thursday morning at the Ukiah Valley Medical Center, becoming the first casualty in the Mendocino Lightning Complex fire.

Anderson Valley Fire Chief Colin Wilson said the 63-year-old Roland was acting as a spotter on the Nash fire north of Boonville when he started feeling fatigue and had difficulty breathing Wednesday night.

A paramedic checked Roland out and determined that he needed to go to a hospital. Roland was driven into Boonville where met an ambulance which took him to UVMC.

Roland was treated in the emergency room before being put moved into the intensive care unit where he passed away at around 4 a.m. Thursday.

"He was a hugely enthusiastic volunteer," Wilson said. "He didn't care what he did, he wanted to be of service."

Roland had been a volunteer with the Anderson Valley department for two-months, he and his wife had moved to Anderson Valley from San Diego in January.

Roland had worked in San Diego at an aeronautical firm and before that he F4 fighter jet for the military from 1967 until 1977.

All Anderson Valley firefighters were pulled off the firelines Thursday for a 24-hour stand down because of the death. Wilson said firefighters were using the time to clean and prep their engines for a continued firefighting effort.

"We will be back to work tomorrow," he said.

Source: By BEN BROWN/The Daily Journal

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Thursday, July 3, 2008