8 fallen Arizona firefighters honored as part of national tribute

PHOENIX – Eight fallen Arizona firefighters will be honored during a national tribute this weekend.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) is hosting the 44th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

This year’s memorial will pay tribute to 140 firefighters, 70 who died in 2024 and 70 who died in previous years.

“Memorial weekend is a time for our nation to come together to honor their bravery, to stand beside their families, and ensure their legacy lives on in every community they so selflessly served,” NFFF CEO Victor Stagnaro said in a press release.

The following two weekend events will be open to the public and streamed live on the NFFF’s website, YouTube channel and Facebook page:

• Candlelight service Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Arizona time.
• Memorial service Sunday at 7 a.m. Arizona time.

Other events will be held for exclusively for the honorees’ families and fire departments.

Who are the fallen Arizona firefighters being honored?

Here are the Arizona firefighters being honored during this weekend, with their dates and causes of death:

• Engineer Eric James Flannery, 50, Daisy Mountain Fire and Medical: April 20, 2023, complications of cancer.
• Firefighter Mark Fowl, 59, Glendale Fire Department: Dec. 19, 2022, complications of cancer.
• Capt. Nolberto Gem, 65, Phoenix Fire Department: Jan. 22, 2022, complications of cancer.
• Wildland Firefighter/Paramedic Steven K. Keffer, 62, Adventure Medics: Aug. 8, 2023, after his deployment to the Reserve Complex fires in New Mexico.
• Capt. Michael C. Martin, 67, Phoenix Fire Department: June 16, 2023, complications of cancer.
• Capt. Thomas M. McNamara, 66, Tucson Fire Department: June 21, 2022, complications of cancer.
• Engineer Brian W. Miiller, 61, Buckeye Valley Fire District: Feb. 7, 2022, complications of COVID-19.
• Capt. Kory Michael Yule, 42, Scottsdale Fire Department: Jan. 7, 2024, complications of cancer.

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