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Firefighter Joe G. Ramirez, a decorated 17-year
veteran of the SAFD responded to a multiple alarm blaze on the
afternoon of Saturday January 8, 1966. He and his company,
Engine #27, responded were dispatched on the second alarm of
what became a three-alarm fire. In the process of fighting the
fire at 1301 W. Martin, firefighter Ramirez was overcome by
heavy smoke and collapsed. Firefighter Charles Havel was manning
the line inside the warehouse with Ramirez. When the smoke
became too intense, Havel yelled out to Ramirez, “ Let’s get out
of here Joe” but Ramirez did not respond and fell onto
firefighter Havel. Ramirez was brought out of the building
covered in wet ashes. He was given immediate medical attention
at the scene and Father Cecil Barron of St. Franciso DiPaola
Church administered last rites to firefighter Ramirez as he was
being given oxygen. Firefighter Ramirez was pronounced dead upon
arrival at Santa Rosa Hospital. Firefighter Joe Ramirez was
called, “ one of the best” by other firefighters and had the
reputation for always being out on the front line of a fire.
Ramirez was the recipient of “The Fireman of the Year Award” in
1963. The fire that killed Ramirez also injured several other
firefighters. Lt. Charles Ehrlich was one of the injured. Lt.
Ehrlich was killed in the line of duty 7 years later. Ramirez
was laid to rest at Fort Sam National Cemetery and was survived
by his wife and two children.
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