[PHOTO: GoFundMe]
FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – A Memorial service was held Wednesday morning for a US Forest Service Fire Fighter who was killed in a traffic accident.
Battalion Chief Gary Helming died August 31st, while he was on the road home to Pismo Beach.
Helming had been battling the Railroad Fire, burning near Yosemite National Park.
His car was in a head on collision after a pickup truck got a flat tire and swerved into Helming’s truck.
That driver, 25-year-old-Antonio Avalos, from Santa Maria, was airlifted to CRMC with major injuries, according to the CHP.
[PHOTO: Facebook]
Hundreds attended the service for Helming, from members of law enforcement agencies to firefighters from departments along the Central Coast.
[PHOTO: Facebook]
[PHOTO: Facebook]
47 year-old Helming leaves behind a wife and three children.
A go-fund-me page is set up for Andrea Helming and family.
“He was a loving husband to Andrea and father to 9-year-old Riley and 9-month-old twins, Walker and Nalani. He was a 20+ year veteran firefighter with the US Forest Service, and was returning home from fighting the Railroad Fire near Yosemite National Park when he passed away.” – Kathy Curtis, on GoFundMe.
Link here: https://www.gofundme.com/support-for-gary-helmings-family
Click below to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
