2022 Firefighter’s Memorial Ceremony

On Wednesday, May 11, 2022, the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) will host the firefighters’ memorial service. This year, Firefighter Specialist Samuel Neubauer, Firefighter Paramedic Brian Ballentine, Firefighter Specialist Tory Carlon, and Firefighter Jonathan Flagler will be honored for their service and dedication to the Department.

The memorial service will be live streamed on the Department’s YouTube channel for all of those who are unable to attend in person at 10:00 a.m.

Every year since 1988, the widows in the Family Support Group attend the event to honor their spouses.  They established the memorial wall project and the nonprofit Los Angeles County Firefighters’ Memorial Committee to allow them to pay tribute to the memory of the Department’s fallen firefighters.

Steven McCann, Captain

It is with great sadness that the County of Los Angeles Fire Department has announced the unexpected passing of Captain Steven McCann, Fire Station 166, Battalion 10. Captain McCann passed away, while on duty, on February 9, 2022. Captain was 48 years old and dedicated more than 16 years of faithful service to the community. He is survived by his mother, three daughters, grandchild, and siblings.

Captain McCann was a highly respected and esteemed firefighter who truly embodied our core values of courage, caring, commitment, community, integrity, and teamwork while on and off the job.

Captain McCann will be tremendously missed by all of us – and we will never forget him.

Jonathan Flagler, Firefighter

It is with great sadness that the County of Los Angeles Fire Department has announced the unexpected passing of Firefighter Jonathan Flagler, Fire Station 83, Battalion 14, Central Regional Operations Bureau. At approximately 02:49 a.m., the morning of January 6, 2022, Firefighter Flagler sustained fatal injuries while engaged in firefighting operations at a single-family residence in Rancho Palos Verdes.  Firefighter Flagler was a 21-year veteran of the fire service having served 19 years with the Vernon Fire Department before transitioning into our Department in October 2020. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

Tory Carlon, Firefighter Specialist

On June 1, 2021, Firefighter Specialist Tory Carlon was fatally shot while on duty at Fire Station 81 in Agua Dulce. Specialist Carlon was 44 years old and worked for the Fire Department for more than 20 years. He was previously a member of the U.S. Forest Service Explorer Program. According to Fire Chief Daryl Osby, Tory was “truly dedicated, one of our better firefighters, amazing, and a true loss to our department.”

Edward Kelly, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said “Firefighters leave their homes and loved ones every day knowing the risks involved in our profession. The challenges of being a firefighter or paramedic include seeing and experiencing some of life’s most horrifying circumstances. Nothing, however, can adequately prepare anyone for today’s tragedy.”

He is survived by his wife and three daughters. Our sincerest condolences to Firefighter Specialist Tory Carlon’s family as well as his extended fire family.