Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
5 Of The 19 Firefighters Killed in Arizona Had Ties To California
Five of the 19 firefighters who perished in a devastating Arizona wildfire had ties to California, including two who attended Hemet High School.
Kevin Woyjeck, 21, of Seal Beach, was the son of Los Angeles Fire Department captain Joe Woyjeck. His goal was to one day join the Los Angeles County Fire Department, just like his dad, according to NBC News. "I have some solace in knowing that Kevin was doing what he what he truly enjoyed, and that is being a firefighter and helping others," L.A. County fire Chief Daryl Cosby, who'd known Woyjeck since he was a boy, said Monday.
Billy Warneke, of Hemet, was a 25-year-old Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq and got his firefighter training on the G.I. Bill. The job in Arizona was his first assignment, his grandfather, Jack Warneke, told KTLA.
Chris MacKenzie, 30, graduated from Hemet High School in 2001. He was the son of a former Moreno Valley CDF captain, according to the Press Enterprise.
Support for LAist comes from
Sean Misner, 26, graduated from Santa Ynez Valley Union High School in Santa Barbara County in 2005, the Associated Press reports. He came from a family of firefighters in Montecito, according to the Santa Barbara Independent. He had been married less than one year and he leaves behind a pregnant wife.
Grant McKee, 21, attended Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach. McKee's mother told the AP that McKee was training to be an emergency medical technician. "Grant was one of the most likable people you could ever meet" said Laurie McKee.
The five men were members of the Prescott Fire Department's Granite County Hotshots. They were killed battling a fast-moving brush fire that quickly overwhelmed them.
"I hugged my (other) son a lot," Laurie Goralski, Chris MacKenzie's mother, told the Press Enterprise yesterday. "We put our arms around each other and cried."
Jack Warneke and his wife Nancy, grandparents to Billy Warneke, saw the fire on the news and called Nancy's sister, who lives in Arizona. "She said, 'He's gone. They're all gone,'" Nancy Warneke told the Press Enterprise. "Even though it's a tragedy for the whole family, he was doing what he loved to do. He loved nature and was helping preserve nature."
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist