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Friends, family celebrate the life of firefighter Cory Iverson
Los Angeles Fire Department Task Force 12 firefighters salute as a procession carries the body of Cory Iverson, 32, a fire engineer for Cal Fire San Diego who died fighting the Thomas Fire, on December 17, 2017.
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David McNew/Getty Images
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Family, friends and colleagues gathered Saturday morning to celebrate the life of San Diego Cal Fire engineer Cory Iverson.
The 32-year-old firefighter died in the line of duty on Thursday, December 14 while battling the Thomas Fire.
San Diego Cal Fire Chief Tony Mecham said Iverson and his strike team were finishing up a 24-hour shift and were scheduled to be taken off the fire line. But the team was asked to continue working when the fire began to threaten the city of Fillmore.
Iverson's wife, Ashley, who is pregnant with their second child, spoke at the memorial service, held at The Rock church in Point Loma.
"He provided me with the greatest gift of all: love. He was the greatest father to his munchkin and the most devoted man I know," she said in her emotional tribute to her husband.
Iverson joined Cal Fire in 2009. A funeral procession carried his body through five counties, from Ventura to San Diego, last weekend.
An autopsy found Iverson died from burns and smoke inhalation. Officials previously said he died after some sort of accident but they have not released additional details. A serious accident investigation team is looking into Iverson's death.
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Iverson is survived by his wife and their two-year-old daughter Evie.
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