Two California Fire Fighters Killed in House Fire

Captain Matt Burton

July 22, 2007 – The IAFF and California Professional Firefighters are mourning the loss of two Contra Costa County, CA Local 1230 members who died July 21 in the line of duty. Captain Matt Burton, 35, and Engineer Scott Desmond, 37, were killed while attempting to rescue two people from a destructive house fire in San Pablo, California.

“On behalf of the IAFF Executive Board and our 280,000 members, I extend our thoughts and sympathies to the families of our fallen brothers and to our members of Local 1230,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “We stand with you in this time of mourning.”

Burton was a 14-year veteran of the Contra Costa Fire District who was recently promoted. Desmond worked with Burton at Station 70, located in downtown San Pablo.

The two fire fighters found the two people they had been trying to save dead at the scene. Shortly after the discovery, Burton and Desmond were caught in a flashover and were unable to escape.

Engineer Scott Desmond

The deaths are the first in-action line-of-duty deaths in Contra Costa in at least three decades.

A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, July 27, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord, 2000 Kirker Pass Road, Concord, CA 94521; (925) 676-8742.

A Memorial Fund has been established to benefit the families of the two fallen fire fighters. Contributions can be made to the Local 1230 Widows and Orphans Fund, 112 Blue Ridge Drive, Martinez, CA 94553. Condolences and expressions of sympathy can be sent to the same address.

The fire is in the early stages of investigation, and details are still unknown.