SCR 141, 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 determine the cost for appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.
Fiscal committee: no.
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 the age of 41, 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
P2 1WHEREAS, Firefighter Douglas was an 11-year veteran of the
2United States Air Force, enlisting in 1992. While stationed at
3Vandenberg Air Force Base, he earned the rank of Staff Sergeant,
4attended Airman Leadership School, and was a Missile and Space
5Systems Maintenance Apprentice. During his Air Force career, he
6earned the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force
7Commendation Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Award
8with 1 device, the Air Force Training Ribbon, and the National
9Defense Service Medal; and
10WHEREAS, Firefighter Douglas had a passion for firefighting,
11beginning his career as a volunteer firefighter paramedic in 1999.
12At his graduation ceremony from the Company Officer’s Academy,
13he received the Carpe Diem Award for leadership. In 2004,
14Firefighter Douglas began his career with CAL FIRE at La Quinta
15Fire Station #32 as a Firefighter II/Paramedic and was promoted
16to Fire Apparatus Engineer/Paramedic on June 4, 2013; and
17WHEREAS, In his spare time, Firefighter Douglas enjoyed
18surfing, playing the guitar, cooking, working on cars, traveling,
19and spending time with his friends. Above all else, he valued
20spending time with his family; and
21WHEREAS, On July 5, 2013, Firefighter Douglas was leaving
22the scene of a medical emergency when his fire engine was
23dispatched to another call, a traffic accident. While preparing to
24respond to the traffic accident, Firefighter Douglas was struck by
25a pickup truck while he was along the side of his fire engine, and
26succumbed to his injuries a few hours later; and
27WHEREAS, Firefighter Douglas is survived by his mother,
28Rose Porter, sister, Heather Douglas, brother, Martin Douglas, and
29his parents-in-law, Ronald and Sheryl Aitken; and his loving wife,
30Amy, and their three-year-old son, Samuel, and four-month-old
31daughter, Bridget; and
32WHEREAS, Firefighter Douglas exemplified the
33professionalism, work ethic, and dedication for which CAL FIRE
34firefighters are known. He touched the lives of many, is truly
35missed by all who knew him, and will never be forgotten; now,
36therefore, be it
37Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
38thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the
39contributions of CAL FIRE Firefighter Christopher Lee Douglas
40to the people of California and hereby designates the 5-mile portion
P3 1of Interstate 10 from the 22nd Street undercrossing to the Malki
2Road undercrossing in Banning, California, as the CAL FIRE
3Firefighter Christopher Lee Douglas Memorial Highway; and be
4it further
5Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested
6to determine the cost of appropriate signs, consistent with the
7signing requirements for the state highway system, showing this
8special designation and, upon receiving donations from non-state
9sources sufficient to cover cost, to erect those signs; and be it
10further
11Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
12this resolution to the Director of Transportation and to the author
13for appropriate distribution.
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