*The heroism and selflessness of fire professionals must always be honored and remembered.*
From Facebook~Remembering Smokejumper Luke Sheehy USFS:
Remembering California son Chris Mackenzie
Date of Birth: September 12, 1982
Chris was born at Kaiser Hospital in Fontana, California. He was born with eye lashes that women would die for and before he left the hospital one of the maternity ward nurses put him in one arm and a set of twin boys on the other and showed them off to all the mothers and nurses. He was taken home to San Bernardino to meet his 17-month-old brother Aaron. From the very beginning you could tell he was going to be mellow and easy going. When he was three his family moved to Hemet and he attended elementary, middle and high school. He was in the GATE program for exceptional students when in elementary school, and he was a Boy Scout who earned his Eagle Scout ranking. He was a big kid, and upon graduating from middle school went out for football at Hemet High and played all four years.
Christopher MacKenzie was a 2001 Hemet High graduate who joined the U.S. Forest Service in 2004. He moved to the Prescott Fire Department about two years ago.
After high school he developed a passion for snowboarding, moved to Big Bear, went to work for Snow Summit for four seasons, and became an excellent snow boarder.
His next adventure began when he applied to become a seasonal firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service, and ended up on the Taquitz crew on the San Bernardino National Forest. He went on to serve on a helicopter crew for the Bureau of Land Management and the Mill Creek Hotshots on the San Bernardino National Forest.
He was invited to apply to the Granite Mountain Hotshots by Aaron Stevens, one of his former captains and just started his third season as a full- time employee of Prescott City Fire as a lead crew member.
Chris lived his life to the fullest and went places most people only dreamed about. He collected friendships like other people collect shot glasses. He loved fighting wildfires and told his brother he saw it as a way to see the most beautiful country in America. He was loved by everyone he met and will forever have a place in their hearts.
Christopher is survived by his mother Lauri Goralski, father Michael MacKenzie, brother Aaron MacKenzie, step mother Janice MacKenzie, and step sisters Janae Gier and Jill Allison.
MacKenzie was a firefighter just like his father, former Moreno Valley Cal Fire Capt. Mike MacKenzie.
"He lived life to the fullest. He was an avid snowboarder and was fighting fire just like his dad," Chris's close friend and former roommate said. "He was finishing his credentials to get promoted and loved the people. It's an insane tragedy."
~~~~~~~~
RIVERSIDE — A memorial Service is scheduled for Saturday evening for one of nineteen elite firefighters killed in the fast-moving wildfire in Ariz. on June 30.
The tribute for Christopher MacKenzie will begin at 6 p.m. at Ramona Bowl Amphitheater at 27400 Ramona Bowl Road.
MacKenzie's body was flown back to the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos on Wednesday.
The procession then led his casket in a white hearse to his hometown of Hemet. Hundreds of fire crews from 50 different agencies took part in the memorial ramp ceremony.
MacKenzie is the son of retired CAL FIRE Capt. Mike MacKenzie.
The 30-year-old worked for the San Bernardino County Fire Department before moving to the city of Prescott in Arizona.
Yarnell Hill 19 ~ Answering Last Alarm 30 Jun 2013:
Andrew Sterling Ashcraft - Age: 29
Robert Caldwell - Age: 23
Travis Clay Carter - Age: 31
Dustin James Deford - Age: 24
Christopher Alan Peebles MacKenzie - Age: 30
Eric Shane Marsh - Age: 43
Grant Quinn McKee - Age: 21
Sean Michael Misner - Age: 26
Scott Daniel Norris - Age: 28
Wade Scott Parker - Age: 22
John Joseph Percin Jr - Age: 24
Anthony Michael Rose - Age: 23
Jesse James Steed - Age: 36
Joe B. Thurston - Age: 32
Travis Turbyfill - Age: 27
William Howard "Billy" Warneke - Age: 25
Clayton Thomas Whitted - Age: 28
Kevin Joseph Woyjeck - Age: 21
Garret Joseph Zuppiger - Age: 27
Note: A special Thank You to sniksnak for sponsoring Chris's memorial.
From Facebook~Remembering Smokejumper Luke Sheehy USFS:
Remembering California son Chris Mackenzie
Date of Birth: September 12, 1982
Chris was born at Kaiser Hospital in Fontana, California. He was born with eye lashes that women would die for and before he left the hospital one of the maternity ward nurses put him in one arm and a set of twin boys on the other and showed them off to all the mothers and nurses. He was taken home to San Bernardino to meet his 17-month-old brother Aaron. From the very beginning you could tell he was going to be mellow and easy going. When he was three his family moved to Hemet and he attended elementary, middle and high school. He was in the GATE program for exceptional students when in elementary school, and he was a Boy Scout who earned his Eagle Scout ranking. He was a big kid, and upon graduating from middle school went out for football at Hemet High and played all four years.
Christopher MacKenzie was a 2001 Hemet High graduate who joined the U.S. Forest Service in 2004. He moved to the Prescott Fire Department about two years ago.
After high school he developed a passion for snowboarding, moved to Big Bear, went to work for Snow Summit for four seasons, and became an excellent snow boarder.
His next adventure began when he applied to become a seasonal firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service, and ended up on the Taquitz crew on the San Bernardino National Forest. He went on to serve on a helicopter crew for the Bureau of Land Management and the Mill Creek Hotshots on the San Bernardino National Forest.
He was invited to apply to the Granite Mountain Hotshots by Aaron Stevens, one of his former captains and just started his third season as a full- time employee of Prescott City Fire as a lead crew member.
Chris lived his life to the fullest and went places most people only dreamed about. He collected friendships like other people collect shot glasses. He loved fighting wildfires and told his brother he saw it as a way to see the most beautiful country in America. He was loved by everyone he met and will forever have a place in their hearts.
Christopher is survived by his mother Lauri Goralski, father Michael MacKenzie, brother Aaron MacKenzie, step mother Janice MacKenzie, and step sisters Janae Gier and Jill Allison.
MacKenzie was a firefighter just like his father, former Moreno Valley Cal Fire Capt. Mike MacKenzie.
"He lived life to the fullest. He was an avid snowboarder and was fighting fire just like his dad," Chris's close friend and former roommate said. "He was finishing his credentials to get promoted and loved the people. It's an insane tragedy."
~~~~~~~~
RIVERSIDE — A memorial Service is scheduled for Saturday evening for one of nineteen elite firefighters killed in the fast-moving wildfire in Ariz. on June 30.
The tribute for Christopher MacKenzie will begin at 6 p.m. at Ramona Bowl Amphitheater at 27400 Ramona Bowl Road.
MacKenzie's body was flown back to the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos on Wednesday.
The procession then led his casket in a white hearse to his hometown of Hemet. Hundreds of fire crews from 50 different agencies took part in the memorial ramp ceremony.
MacKenzie is the son of retired CAL FIRE Capt. Mike MacKenzie.
The 30-year-old worked for the San Bernardino County Fire Department before moving to the city of Prescott in Arizona.
Yarnell Hill 19 ~ Answering Last Alarm 30 Jun 2013:
Andrew Sterling Ashcraft - Age: 29
Robert Caldwell - Age: 23
Travis Clay Carter - Age: 31
Dustin James Deford - Age: 24
Christopher Alan Peebles MacKenzie - Age: 30
Eric Shane Marsh - Age: 43
Grant Quinn McKee - Age: 21
Sean Michael Misner - Age: 26
Scott Daniel Norris - Age: 28
Wade Scott Parker - Age: 22
John Joseph Percin Jr - Age: 24
Anthony Michael Rose - Age: 23
Jesse James Steed - Age: 36
Joe B. Thurston - Age: 32
Travis Turbyfill - Age: 27
William Howard "Billy" Warneke - Age: 25
Clayton Thomas Whitted - Age: 28
Kevin Joseph Woyjeck - Age: 21
Garret Joseph Zuppiger - Age: 27
Note: A special Thank You to sniksnak for sponsoring Chris's memorial.
*The heroism and selflessness of fire professionals must always be honored and remembered.*
From Facebook~Remembering Smokejumper Luke Sheehy USFS:
Remembering California son Chris Mackenzie
Date of Birth: September 12, 1982
Chris was born at Kaiser Hospital in Fontana, California. He was born with eye lashes that women would die for and before he left the hospital one of the maternity ward nurses put him in one arm and a set of twin boys on the other and showed them off to all the mothers and nurses. He was taken home to San Bernardino to meet his 17-month-old brother Aaron. From the very beginning you could tell he was going to be mellow and easy going. When he was three his family moved to Hemet and he attended elementary, middle and high school. He was in the GATE program for exceptional students when in elementary school, and he was a Boy Scout who earned his Eagle Scout ranking. He was a big kid, and upon graduating from middle school went out for football at Hemet High and played all four years.
Christopher MacKenzie was a 2001 Hemet High graduate who joined the U.S. Forest Service in 2004. He moved to the Prescott Fire Department about two years ago.
After high school he developed a passion for snowboarding, moved to Big Bear, went to work for Snow Summit for four seasons, and became an excellent snow boarder.
His next adventure began when he applied to become a seasonal firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service, and ended up on the Taquitz crew on the San Bernardino National Forest. He went on to serve on a helicopter crew for the Bureau of Land Management and the Mill Creek Hotshots on the San Bernardino National Forest.
He was invited to apply to the Granite Mountain Hotshots by Aaron Stevens, one of his former captains and just started his third season as a full- time employee of Prescott City Fire as a lead crew member.
Chris lived his life to the fullest and went places most people only dreamed about. He collected friendships like other people collect shot glasses. He loved fighting wildfires and told his brother he saw it as a way to see the most beautiful country in America. He was loved by everyone he met and will forever have a place in their hearts.
Christopher is survived by his mother Lauri Goralski, father Michael MacKenzie, brother Aaron MacKenzie, step mother Janice MacKenzie, and step sisters Janae Gier and Jill Allison.
MacKenzie was a firefighter just like his father, former Moreno Valley Cal Fire Capt. Mike MacKenzie.
"He lived life to the fullest. He was an avid snowboarder and was fighting fire just like his dad," Chris's close friend and former roommate said. "He was finishing his credentials to get promoted and loved the people. It's an insane tragedy."
~~~~~~~~
RIVERSIDE — A memorial Service is scheduled for Saturday evening for one of nineteen elite firefighters killed in the fast-moving wildfire in Ariz. on June 30.
The tribute for Christopher MacKenzie will begin at 6 p.m. at Ramona Bowl Amphitheater at 27400 Ramona Bowl Road.
MacKenzie's body was flown back to the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos on Wednesday.
The procession then led his casket in a white hearse to his hometown of Hemet. Hundreds of fire crews from 50 different agencies took part in the memorial ramp ceremony.
MacKenzie is the son of retired CAL FIRE Capt. Mike MacKenzie.
The 30-year-old worked for the San Bernardino County Fire Department before moving to the city of Prescott in Arizona.
Yarnell Hill 19 ~ Answering Last Alarm 30 Jun 2013:
Andrew Sterling Ashcraft - Age: 29
Robert Caldwell - Age: 23
Travis Clay Carter - Age: 31
Dustin James Deford - Age: 24
Christopher Alan Peebles MacKenzie - Age: 30
Eric Shane Marsh - Age: 43
Grant Quinn McKee - Age: 21
Sean Michael Misner - Age: 26
Scott Daniel Norris - Age: 28
Wade Scott Parker - Age: 22
John Joseph Percin Jr - Age: 24
Anthony Michael Rose - Age: 23
Jesse James Steed - Age: 36
Joe B. Thurston - Age: 32
Travis Turbyfill - Age: 27
William Howard "Billy" Warneke - Age: 25
Clayton Thomas Whitted - Age: 28
Kevin Joseph Woyjeck - Age: 21
Garret Joseph Zuppiger - Age: 27
Note: A special Thank You to sniksnak for sponsoring Chris's memorial.
From Facebook~Remembering Smokejumper Luke Sheehy USFS:
Remembering California son Chris Mackenzie
Date of Birth: September 12, 1982
Chris was born at Kaiser Hospital in Fontana, California. He was born with eye lashes that women would die for and before he left the hospital one of the maternity ward nurses put him in one arm and a set of twin boys on the other and showed them off to all the mothers and nurses. He was taken home to San Bernardino to meet his 17-month-old brother Aaron. From the very beginning you could tell he was going to be mellow and easy going. When he was three his family moved to Hemet and he attended elementary, middle and high school. He was in the GATE program for exceptional students when in elementary school, and he was a Boy Scout who earned his Eagle Scout ranking. He was a big kid, and upon graduating from middle school went out for football at Hemet High and played all four years.
Christopher MacKenzie was a 2001 Hemet High graduate who joined the U.S. Forest Service in 2004. He moved to the Prescott Fire Department about two years ago.
After high school he developed a passion for snowboarding, moved to Big Bear, went to work for Snow Summit for four seasons, and became an excellent snow boarder.
His next adventure began when he applied to become a seasonal firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service, and ended up on the Taquitz crew on the San Bernardino National Forest. He went on to serve on a helicopter crew for the Bureau of Land Management and the Mill Creek Hotshots on the San Bernardino National Forest.
He was invited to apply to the Granite Mountain Hotshots by Aaron Stevens, one of his former captains and just started his third season as a full- time employee of Prescott City Fire as a lead crew member.
Chris lived his life to the fullest and went places most people only dreamed about. He collected friendships like other people collect shot glasses. He loved fighting wildfires and told his brother he saw it as a way to see the most beautiful country in America. He was loved by everyone he met and will forever have a place in their hearts.
Christopher is survived by his mother Lauri Goralski, father Michael MacKenzie, brother Aaron MacKenzie, step mother Janice MacKenzie, and step sisters Janae Gier and Jill Allison.
MacKenzie was a firefighter just like his father, former Moreno Valley Cal Fire Capt. Mike MacKenzie.
"He lived life to the fullest. He was an avid snowboarder and was fighting fire just like his dad," Chris's close friend and former roommate said. "He was finishing his credentials to get promoted and loved the people. It's an insane tragedy."
~~~~~~~~
RIVERSIDE — A memorial Service is scheduled for Saturday evening for one of nineteen elite firefighters killed in the fast-moving wildfire in Ariz. on June 30.
The tribute for Christopher MacKenzie will begin at 6 p.m. at Ramona Bowl Amphitheater at 27400 Ramona Bowl Road.
MacKenzie's body was flown back to the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos on Wednesday.
The procession then led his casket in a white hearse to his hometown of Hemet. Hundreds of fire crews from 50 different agencies took part in the memorial ramp ceremony.
MacKenzie is the son of retired CAL FIRE Capt. Mike MacKenzie.
The 30-year-old worked for the San Bernardino County Fire Department before moving to the city of Prescott in Arizona.
Yarnell Hill 19 ~ Answering Last Alarm 30 Jun 2013:
Andrew Sterling Ashcraft - Age: 29
Robert Caldwell - Age: 23
Travis Clay Carter - Age: 31
Dustin James Deford - Age: 24
Christopher Alan Peebles MacKenzie - Age: 30
Eric Shane Marsh - Age: 43
Grant Quinn McKee - Age: 21
Sean Michael Misner - Age: 26
Scott Daniel Norris - Age: 28
Wade Scott Parker - Age: 22
John Joseph Percin Jr - Age: 24
Anthony Michael Rose - Age: 23
Jesse James Steed - Age: 36
Joe B. Thurston - Age: 32
Travis Turbyfill - Age: 27
William Howard "Billy" Warneke - Age: 25
Clayton Thomas Whitted - Age: 28
Kevin Joseph Woyjeck - Age: 21
Garret Joseph Zuppiger - Age: 27
Note: A special Thank You to sniksnak for sponsoring Chris's memorial.
