LAFD Blog News: LAFD Mourns the Passing of a Fellow Firefighter

Sunday, July 24, 2011

LAFD Blog News: LAFD Mourns the Passing of a Fellow Firefighter

As you may have recently heard, the men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department are mourning the off-duty passing of fellow Firefighter Eric Shepherd.

The LAFD would like to share some additional information about this very special man...

Eric Shepherd was born on July 12th, 1978 at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. Raised in Carson, California, Eric graduated from Long Beach Jordan High School in 1996. Later that year, Eric joined the United States Air Force and served as a firefighter in Kuwait and at home at Edwards Air Force Base. After four years of dedicated service to his country, Eric was honorably discharged as a Senior Airman.

In July of 2003, Eric joined the Los Angeles Fire Department. Following the drill tower and probationary assignments, Eric transferred to Fire Station 29 in Battalion 11, serving the Wilshire Center and Mid City areas of Los Angeles. Widely recognized as a conscientious and talented firefighter as well as a generous and genuine friend, Eric quickly earned the respect and admiration of his peers and the public he proudly served. He successfully tested for the rank of engineer and was looking forward to the added challenges and responsibilities of the promotion.

Eric Shepherd died suddenly while off-duty on July 18th, 2011. He is survived by his father, Ronald and his stepmother Cindy, his mother Loretta, sister Rene, and the love of his life Cacherel Smaith, with whom he brought into this world and raised as the apple of his eye, his daughter Sarai.

He was a credit to his family and friends, his country, the fire service and his department. His warmth, laughter, and easy going demeanor will always be cherished. Eric will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.

Firefighter Shepherd was assigned to Fire Station 29 "C" Platoon.

Public Memorial services for LAFD Firefighter Eric Shepherd have been scheduled:

Date: Friday, July 29, 2011
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Crenshaw Christian Center, 7901 South Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA.
Procession: From church to cemetery- (details to be determined)
Interment: Forest Lawn Cypress (details to be determined)
Vigil: Crawford Mortuary (details to be determined)

Members of the Fire Service and allied agencies that wish to have a formal presence, are asked to contact LAFD's Planning Section at (213) 978-3845.

All members of the community are welcome to join us in celebrating the life of Eric Shepherd. We thank you for the outpouring of kind remarks.

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department information from LAFD Blog

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Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

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Sunday, July 24, 2011