El Cajon firefighters honor fallen heroes in ceremony

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- They call themselves the “smoke eaters” — a brotherhood of El Cajon’s finest firefighters who have spent decades protecting East County. On Saturday, the group held a special ceremony honoring their fallen brothers, a tradition that takes place every two years.

With each ring of a bell, a name was read aloud for a firefighter who has passed.

“They were our heroes,” said retired firefighter Andy Lott. “Our very first chief, Chief Owen Goodman, died of cancer. We miss him as well.”

The ceremony, which began more than 40 years ago, is as much about remembrance as it is about reunion. This year, the retired firefighters gathered at the Alpine home of Dave and Karen Truttman.

“We get together every two years and honor the Smoke Eaters,” said retired firefighter Bruce Rogers. “When I came on the department, there was only one breathing apparatus, and nobody wanted to put it on at the fire.”

Retired Fire Chief Ed Jarrell recalled some of the city’s most memorable calls, including an F-14 Tomcat crash at Gillespie Field in 1988 and the unusual 1996 rescue of a woman who got stuck in her chimney after locking herself out of her home.

“She was wearing a sweater and somehow got that off, so when they were pulling her out, one guy looked down and said, ‘Chief, she’s naked,’” Jarrell said with a laugh. “We wrapped her up, but she was on national TV. I talked to people in Japan and Europe who wanted the story.”

As the men swapped stories and flipped through old photos, the memories came flooding back — especially of their earliest days on the job.

“I remember my very first fire,” Lott said. “It was a car fire, and someone yelled the gas tank was full. I started to back down, but the captain shoved me right back into that fire because he knew more than I did — I was a rookie.”

Family members were also there to celebrate their loved ones’ service. Linda Thompson said she’s always been proud of her husband’s long firefighting career.

“I’m extremely proud of him,” she said. “I tell him every day.”

The "smoke eaters" say they’ll continue gathering every two years to remember those who came before them and to honor the bond that has kept them together for decades.

“There were a lot of great people,” Jarrell said. “We shared so much together — on and off the department.”

Lott added, “I still wear my fire shirts and things that say I’m a firefighter. I’m very proud of my service.”