SCR 22, as introduced, Morrell. CAL FIRE Firefighter Christopher Lee Douglas Memorial Highway.
This measure would designate a 5-mile portion of Interstate 10 as the CAL FIRE Firefighter Christopher Lee Douglas Memorial Highway. The measure would also request the Department of Transportation to erect appropriate signs, consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing this special designation and to cover the cost of those signs from nonstate sources previously secured.
Fiscal committee: yes.
P1 1WHEREAS, California Department of Forestry and Fire
2Protection (CAL FIRE) Firefighter Christopher Lee Douglas passed
3away in the line of duty on July 5, 2013, at 41 years of age, while
4responding to a traffic accident in Riverside County; and
5WHEREAS, Firefighter Douglas was born in Colorado Springs,
6Colorado, and attended Widefield High School. He later attended
7Palomar College in Vista, California, graduating at the top of his
8class and earning his paramedic license; and
9WHEREAS, Firefighter Douglas was an 11-year veteran of the
10United States Air Force, enlisting in 1992. While stationed at
P2 1Vandenberg Air Force Base, he earned the rank of Staff Sergeant,
2attended Airman Leadership School, and was a Missile and Space
3Systems Maintenance Apprentice. During his Air Force career, he
4earned the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force
5Commendation Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Award
6with 1 device, the Air Force Training Ribbon, and the National
7Defense Service Medal; and
8WHEREAS, Firefighter Douglas had a passion for firefighting,
9beginning his career as a volunteer firefighter paramedic in 1999.
10At his graduation ceremony from the Company Officer’s Academy,
11he received the Carpe Diem Award for leadership. In 2004,
12Firefighter Douglas began his career with CAL FIRE at La Quinta
13Fire Station #32 as a Firefighter II/Paramedic and was promoted
14to Fire Apparatus Engineer/Paramedic on June 4, 2013; and
15WHEREAS, In his spare time, Firefighter Douglas enjoyed
16surfing, playing the guitar, cooking, working on cars, traveling,
17and spending time with his friends. Above all else, he valued
18spending time with his family; and
19WHEREAS, On July 5, 2013, Firefighter Douglas was leaving
20the scene of a medical emergency when his fire engine was
21dispatched to another call, a traffic accident. While preparing to
22respond to the traffic accident, Firefighter Douglas was struck by
23a pickup truck while he was along the side of his fire engine, and
24succumbed to his injuries a few hours later; and
25WHEREAS, Firefighter Douglas is survived by his mother,
26Rose Porter, sister, Heather Douglas, brother, Martin Douglas, and
27his parents-in-law, Ronald and Sheryl Aitken; and his loving wife,
28Amy, and their three-year-old son, Samuel, and four-month-old
29daughter, Bridget; and
30WHEREAS, Firefighter Douglas exemplified the
31professionalism, work ethic, and dedication for which CAL FIRE
32firefighters are known. He touched the lives of many, is truly
33missed by all who knew him, and will never be forgotten; now,
34therefore, be it
35Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
36thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the
37contributions of CAL FIRE Firefighter Christopher Lee Douglas
38to the people of California and hereby designates the five-mile
39portion of Interstate 10 from the 22nd Street undercrossing to the
40Malki Road undercrossing in Banning, California, as the CAL
P3 1FIRE Firefighter Christopher Lee Douglas Memorial Highway;
2and be it further
3Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested
4to erect appropriate signs, consistent with the signing requirements
5for the state highway system, showing this special designation and
6to cover the cost of those signs from nonstate sources previously
7secured; and be it further
8Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
9this resolution to the Director of Transportation and to the author
10for appropriate distribution.
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