Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Wife Ashley Iverson and daughter Evie are escorted by CAL FIRE at the celebration of life of Cory Iverson who was killed battling the Thomas Fire at the Rock Church
in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Wife Ashley Iverson and daughter Evie are escorted by CAL FIRE at the celebration of life of Cory Iverson who was killed battling the Thomas Fire at the Rock Church
in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Wife Ashley Iverson and daughter Evie are escorted by CAL FIRE at the celebration of life of Cory Iverson who was killed battling the Thomas Fire at the Rock Church
in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Wife Ashley Iverson and daughter Evie are escorted by CAL FIRE at the celebration of life of Cory Iverson who was killed battling the Thomas Fire at the Rock Church
in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Thousands of firefighters and family members gather to celebrate the life of CAL FIRE Engineer Cory Iverson who dead in the line of duty battling the Thomas Fire at Rock Church in San Diego on Saturday, December 23, 2017. (Photo Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)Show Caption of Expand
Grieving family, friends and colleagues gathered at a Liberty Station church on Saturday to salute and say goodbye to a firefighter from Escondido who died facing down the Thomas fire, the largest wildfire in California history.
The private late-morning service at The Rock Church honored the memory and sacrifice of Cal Fire engineer Cory Iverson, who served the state agency for more than eight years prior to his Dec. 14 death in the line of duty. He had previously served Iverson with a helicopter unit at Cal Fire’s Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base in Riverside County.
“Let there be no doubt to anybody in this room that Cory Iverson died a hero,” Tony Mecham, chief of Cal Fire San Diego, told attendees. “Cory Iverson lost his life for one very simple reason: He put others first.”
Mecham said Cal Fire stations throughout San Diego County were being covered by other fire departments so that Iverson’s comrades could take part in his service.
“Cory was ours,” Mecham said. “All of ours. And that’s why we’re here.”
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Attendees said Iverson was a devoted family man and a respected firefighter.
“He provided me with the greatest gift of all — love,” Iverson’s wife, Ashley Iverson, said. “He was the greatest father to his munchkin, and the most devoted man I know. When Cory decided he wanted something, he got it. When there was a job to be done, he did it, and 10 more.”
She said she was forever grateful for the support from the community after her husband’s death.
“It is something I never before felt worthy of and will simply never be able to repay,” she said.
The 32-year-old firefighter suffered burns and smoke inhalation near Fillmore while helping battle the Thomas Fire, which has spread over 273,400 acres, destroyed more than 1,000 structures and led to two fatalities since erupting north of Santa Paula nearly three weeks ago.
Previously: ‘They give up so much’: Firefighters’ sacrifice honored as Thomas fire victim Cory Iverson returns home
Monica Pope holds her son Blaine Pope as he crosses his heart in honor of Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson, who was killed battling the Thomas fire as Cal Fire fighters salute during the procession stop at Chino Valley Fire Station 61 Sunday in Chino, CA. December 17, 2017. Blaine’s dad in (TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG)Fire fighters and the public show their support for Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson, who was killed battling the Thomas fire as his procession heads south on Hwy 71 through Inland Empire Sunday in Chino Hills, CA. December 17, 2017. (TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG)Chino Hills resident Trish Speight holds Old Glory as she waits for the procession for Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson, who was killed battling the Thomas fire to arrive at Chino Valley Fire Station 61 Sunday in Chino, CA. December 17, 2017. (TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG)Cal Fire fighter Captain Trevor Littleton salutes as the procession for Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson, who was killed battling the Thomas fire pulls into Chino Valley Fire Station 61 Sunday in Chino, CA. December 17, 2017. (TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG)The procession for Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson, who was killed battling the Thomas fire pulls into Chino Valley Fire Station 61 Sunday in Chino, CA. December 17, 2017. (TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG)Cal Fire fighters line the entrance to show their support during as the procession for Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson, who was killed battling the Thomas fire pulls into Chino Valley Fire Station 61 Sunday in Chino, CA. December 17, 2017. (TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG)Cal Fire fighters line the entrance to show their support during as the procession for Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson, who was killed battling the Thomas fire pulls into Chino Valley Fire Station 61 Sunday in Chino, CA. December 17, 2017. (TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG)A Cal Fire captain wears a black band over his badge as the procession for Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson, who was killed battling the Thomas fire pulls into Chino Valley Fire Station 61 Sunday in Chino, CA. December 17, 2017. (TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG)Bystanders wave an American flag from an overpass of the 101 Freeway in Encino as a procession bringing the body of Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson home to San Diego County from Ventura County passes by on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for SCNG)Local residents show their support during the procession for Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson, who was killed battling the Thomas fire pulls into Chino Valley Fire Station 61 Sunday in Chino, CA. December 17, 2017. (TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG)A large procession make its way down the 101 Freeway in Encino on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, accompanying the body of fallen Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson home to San Diego County from Ventura County, where he was killed last week fighting the Thomas fire. Firefighters and local residents lined many freeway overpasses to pay their respects. (Photo by Gene Blevins for SCNG)A large procession of fire engines and other first responder vehicles make their way down the 101 Freeway in Encino on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, accompanying the body of fallen Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson home to San Diego County from Ventura County, where he was killed last week fighting the Thomas fire. Firefighters and local residents lined many freeway overpasses to pay their respects. (Photo by Gene Blevins for SCNG)A hearse carries fallen Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson on a procession through Southern California in Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. His remains were returned to his home in San Diego County from Ventura County, where he was killed last week fighting the Thomas fire. (Photo by Gene Blevins for SCNG)Los Angeles firefighters stand at attention as a procession bringing fallen Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson home to San Diego County from Ventura County passes along the 101 Freeway in Encino on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for SCNG)People wave American flags as they pay their respects to Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson as a procession bringing his remains home to San Diego County from Ventura County passes along the 101 Freeway in Encino on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for SCNG)People wave American flags and take photos as a procession bringing the body of Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson home to San Diego County from Ventura County passes along the 101 Freeway in Encino on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for SCNG)Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters and residents of Burbank turn out to honer Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson, who lost his life during the Thomas Fire. A procession brought his body from Ventura County to San Diego County on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. (Michael Meadows for SCNG)The procession for Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson, who died from injuries suffered while fighting the Thomas fire on Thursday, Dec. 14, moves down the 134 Freeway through Burbank on Sunday, Dec. 17. His remains were being returned to San Diego County. (Michael Meadows for SCNG)Firefighters and others stand on the Alameda Street bridge over the 134 Freeway in Burbank on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, to pay their respects to Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson, who died from injuries suffered while fighting the Thomas fire on Thursday, Dec. 14. A procession accompanied his body as he was to San Diego County. (Michael Meadows for SCNG)A crowd gathers under a flag flown at half-mast at a fire station in Chino on Sunday, Dec. 17, for the procession accompanying the remains of Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson from Ventura County, where he was killed in action Thursday, to San Diego, where he lived. (Photo by Brooke Staggs, Orange County Register/SCNG)Firefighters and others gather at a Chino Valley Fire District fire station in Chino on Sunday, Dec. 17, for the procession accompanying the remains of Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson from Ventura County, where he was killed in action Thursday, to San Diego, where he lived. (Photo by Brooke Staggs, Orange County Register/SCNG)People come to pay their respects at a Chino Valley Fire District fire station in Chino on Sunday, Dec. 17, for the procession accompanying the remains of Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson from Ventura County, where he was killed in action Thursday, to San Diego, where he lived. (Photo by Brooke Staggs, Orange County Register/SCNG)Firefighters salute as the hearse carrying the remains of Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson pulls into a fire station in Chino on Sunday, Dec. 17. The procession stopped there on its way from Ventura County, where Iverson was killed in action Thursday, to San Diego, where he lived. (Photo by Brooke Staggs, Orange County Register/SCNG)Firefighters salute as the hearse carrying the remains of Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson pulls into a fire station in Chino on Sunday, Dec. 17. The procession stopped there on its way from Ventura County, where Iverson was killed in action Thursday, to San Diego, where he lived. (Photo by Brooke Staggs, Orange County Register/SCNG)Firefighters and others line the Lincoln Avenue bridge over the 91 Freeway in Corona on Sunday, Dec. 17, for the procession accompanying the remains of Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson from Ventura County, where he was killed in action Thursday, to San Diego, where he lived. (Photo by Brooke Staggs, Orange County Register/SCNG)Huntington Beach firefighters stand on an engine stopped on the Lincoln Avenue bridge over the 91 Freeway in Corona on Sunday, Dec. 17. They were there for the procession accompanying the remains of Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson from Ventura County, where he was killed in action Thursday, to San Diego, where he lived. (Photo by Brooke Staggs, Orange County Register/SCNG)U.S. Forest Service firefighters stand on an engine stopped on the Lincoln Avenue bridge over the 91 Freeway in Corona on Sunday, Dec. 17. They were there for the procession accompanying the remains of Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson from Ventura County, where he was killed in action Thursday, to San Diego, where he lived. (Photo by Brooke Staggs, Orange County Register/SCNG)A black band is wrapped around the badge of a Los Angeles Fire Department captain in honor of Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson, who died battling the Thomas fire last week. A procession returning Iverson’s remains to San Diego County went through Encino and many other Southern California cities on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for SCNG)Fire fighters and the public show their support for Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson, who was killed battling the Thomas fire as his procession heads south on Hwy 71 through Inland Empire Sunday in Chino Hills, CA. December 17, 2017. (TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG)Local residents show their support during the procession for Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson, who was killed battling the Thomas fire pulls into Chino Valley Fire Station 61 Sunday in Chino, CA. December 17, 2017. (TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG)The procession for Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson, who was killed battling the Thomas fire pulls into Chino Valley Fire Station 61 Sunday in Chino, CA. December 17, 2017. (TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG)Fire fighters and the public show their support for Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson, who was killed battling the Thomas fire as his procession heads south on Hwy 71 through Inland Empire Sunday in Chino Hills, CA. December 17, 2017. (TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG)Fire fighters and the public show their support for Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson, who was killed battling the Thomas fire as his procession heads south on Hwy 71 through Inland Empire Sunday in Chino Hills, CA. December 17, 2017. (TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG)Show Caption of Expand
As of Friday evening, the huge burn area was 65 percent contained.
Iverson, who was assigned to the Ventura-area inferno as part of a fire-engine strike team from Cal Fire’s San Diego unit, left behind a pregnant wife and a 2-year-old daughter.
Upon learning of Iverson’s death, Gov. Jerry Brown ordered state Capitol flags to be flown at half-staff.
“His bravery and years of committed service to the people of California will never be forgotten,” the governor stated.
An online account established to help Iverson’s family with funeral costs and other expenses can be found at www.gofundme.com/nmkkc-for-ash ley-iverson-and-her-girls.
Source: Oc Register
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