OLYMPIA, Wash. — Firefighters killed in the line of duty, or determined to have died from work-related injuries or illnesses, would be honored with a memorial in Olympia under a proposal making its way through the legislature.
House Bill 2091 establishes a $400,000 fund to begin work on designing the memorial on the state Capitol campus.
Bud Sizemore with the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters said more than 280 names would be part of the memorial, including firefighters for the state’s Department of Natural Resources, city and county firefighters, and paramedics.
Kalina Shouse’s husband, Erik Shouse, would be one of the names.
Shouse, a Snohomish County Firefighter-paramedic, died of cardiac arrest in 2018.
The state’s Department of Labor & Industries linked his death to job-related stress from his 22-year career as a firefighter.
”Having their name etched in stone really symbolizes that he’s not forgotten and the sacrifices of these men and women who died, in service to their communities, that they aren’t forgotten by their communities,” Shouse said.
Rep. Dan Bronoske, a West Pierce Firefighter, sponsored the legislation to create a memorial he said would be “priceless” and “would mean a lot” to firefighters.
The issue is personal for Bronoske, who worked with some of those who would be honored, including Erik Shouse. The two served as volunteers together in Pierce County.
”I will have several names of fellow firefighters that have lost their life in the line of duty that I’ll be able to go there and recognize and reflect upon,” said Bronoske, D-Lakewood.
The bill passed unanimously off the floor of the House and now awaits a floor vote in the Senate.
Bronoske said he is “confident” the legislation will pass this session.
Legislators have until March 7 to complete their work in Olympia.