Woolsey firefighters honor fallen Ventura County sheriff’s sergeant

The leaders of crews fighting the Woolsey fire in Los Angeles and Ventura counties took a few minutes Thursday morning to honor a fallen Ventura County sheriff’s sergeant with a firefighters’  “last alarm” bell ringing ceremony.

The memorial service took place later in the day for Sgt. Ron Helus, gunned down Nov. 7 as he entered the Borderline Bar & Grill  in Thousand Oaks, to stop a shooter who ultimately killed 12 people and himself.

But the firefighters had to head out from the unified command post in Camarillo after the 7 a.m. briefing to rejoin their crews and resume fighting the blaze that broke out in Ventura County one day after the Borderline shooting.

“In my 30 years, I don’t think I have seen our agency with our backs against the wall like it’s been these last 10 days,” sheriff’s Commander Dave Murray told the gathering. “Losing a department member, then … two significant fires, and being spread thin throughout the county,” he said in thanking the firefighters for taking time to honor Helus.

The sergeant, Ventura County sheriff”s Capt. Don Aguilar said Helus’ bottom line was, “support your team, complete your mission, and go home to your families…so please remember today Ron’s bottom line, remember to go home and love and hug all your loved ones.”

Ventura County Fire Department Division Chief John McNeil said the tradition of signalling that units were returning to quarters at the end of a response with a series of three bells, repeated three times.

The signal is now used, he said, to recognize a fallen firefighter’s last alarm.

“Today, we would like to share that tradition with our law enforcement brothers and sisters in honor of Sgt. Helus,” said McNeil, standing on a stage that included a large portrait of the fallen deputy.

Members of the Ventura County Fire Department honor guard rang the ceremonial bell for Helus before the silenced gathering.