September 8, 2021 10:40 a.m. 

Governor Kate Brown has ordered all flags at public institutions to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Thursday in honor of U.S. Forest Service contract firefighter Frumencio Ruiz Carapia.

Carapia was killed on August 23rd after he was struck by a falling tree while working on the Gales Fire in Lane County. The flag order coincides with the date of Carapia’s memorial service in Medford.

Brown said, “Wildland firefighting is often difficult and dangerous work that requires those who do it to leave those they love and cherish to protect people they may never meet. We honor the memory of Mr. Ruiz Carapia and will remember his sacrifice”.

The National Wildfire Suppression Association will hold a ceremony in Ruiz Carapia’s honor at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Jackson County Expo Center.