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BANNING

HIGHWAY DEDICATED TO FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS

~Photos Andrews for Desert Local News BY LESLIE ANDREWS BANNING, CA- Twenty-nine miles of Highway 243 will forever be known as the Esperanza Firefighters Memorial Highway. In October of 2006, five firefighters of U.S. Forest Service Engine 57- Mark Loutzenhiser, Jess McLean, Jason McKay, Daniel Hoover- Najera and Pablo Cerda- lost their lives fighting the Esperanza Wildfire, which was caused by arson. The fire burned a total of 40,200 acres and destroyed 34 homes. On Friday, California's 64th Assem- blyman John Benoit took part in a special ceremony at the Silent Valley Club in Poppet Flats (South of Banning), presenting the sign that will be placed upon the entrances of the highway, which stretches from Banning to Idyllwild. "With 31 years of law enforcement, I feel very close to the feelings of the families of these firefighters,? said Benoit to Desert Local News. "It's a great privilege for me to use my office to get something like this done. It's a permanent memorial to the five tragic lives lost due to a horrible crime. Now it's time to help the families move forward.? Presentations were also made by Mike Perovich, director of Cal Trans District Eight, John Hawkins, Riverside County Fire Chief and from Commander Lee Gussler of the Palm Springs American Legion #519, who first lobbied Benoit to dedicate Highway 243 in honor of those fallen heroes from the start. "We now have five guardian angels watching over this highway,? said Gussler. The efforts to rename the highway began last year, when Assemblyman Benoit authored Assembly Concurrent Resolution 4, which would formally dedicate the road in their memory. The families of the five fallen Engine 57 firefighters were also presented with certificates and California State Flags during the ceremony. So far, over a million dollars has been raised by charities nationwide to help these families carry on with their lives after the loss of their beloved heroes. Diane Verdugo, a friend of the Loutzenhiser family, said, "This is a very touching tribute. I come from a long family history of firefighters.? Russell Loutzenheizer, the father of one of the fallen heroes, agreed. "I think they've honored the firefighters over the years,? said Richard Gerehart, a fellow firefighter who knew the Engine 57 crew. "It was a very nice event. They handled it well. The sign is a good honor for those they left behind.?

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