Friends, colleagues recall fallen engineer Novato man killed fighting Southern California fires remembered as caring, dedicated

MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL

NOVATO -- On Main Street on Thursday, firefighters built amakeshift memorial to a fallen comrade.

A cardboard sign taped to a bench read: "In memory of our fellowbrother. Steve Rucker."

Next to it sat a white teddy bear, clinging to a red heart.Firefighters surrounded it with flower boxes.

Nearly 24 hours after the accident, Novato's crews, which had beendeployed to battle the fires in San Bernardino, pulled into Station1. The returning firefighters were welcomed home with rousingapplause by dozens of fellow firefighters, police officers and well-wishers who lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the returningmen. …

Friends, colleagues recall fallen engineer Novato man killed fighting Southern California fires remembered as caring, dedicated

MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL

NOVATO -- On Main Street on Thursday, firefighters built amakeshift memorial to a fallen comrade.

A cardboard sign taped to a bench read: "In memory of our fellowbrother. Steve Rucker."

Next to it sat a white teddy bear, clinging to a red heart.Firefighters surrounded it with flower boxes.

Nearly 24 hours after the accident, Novato's crews, which had beendeployed to battle the fires in San Bernardino, pulled into Station1. The returning firefighters were welcomed home with rousingapplause by dozens of fellow firefighters, police officers and well-wishers who lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the returningmen. …