CA Firefighter Killed From Smoke Inhalation, Burns: Coroner

SAN DIEGO, CA -- A San Diego County firefighter who was on the front lines of the third largest wildfire in state history died from burns and smoke inhalation, said the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office on Saturday. Cory Iverson, 32, was killed in Fillmore.

Cal Fire officials said Iverson was assigned to Dulzura Fire Station #30 and worked for the agency since 2009. Prior to joining the San Diego unit, Iverson worked as a helitack firefighter at the Hemet/Ryan airbase and Columbia airbase.

Officials will hold a procession in Iverson's honor on Sunday as the Serious Accident Review Team investigates his death.

The procession will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Ventura County Medical Center and travel through the Los Angeles area before stopping at a temporary staging point in Chino around noon, according to Cal Fire. It will continue from there down the Interstate 15 corridor before concluding at a Miramar mortuary just after 2 p.m.

A memorial for Iverson will be held at The Rock Church in Point Loma at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 23.

A resident of Escondido, Iverson is survived by his pregnant wife, Ashley, and their 2-year-old daughter, Evie.

His death prompted an outpouring of condolences from throughout the U.S. A GoFundMe page created for the family raised more than $300,000 as of Saturday afternoon.

As of Saturday morning, the Thomas Fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties stood at 259,000 acres and was 40 percent contained.

--City News Service contributed to this report; Photo courtesy of Iverson family via GoFundMe

Also See:

Cal Fire Engineer From San Diego County Dies Fighting Thomas Fire

Thomas Fire Now 40% Contained As Firefighters Mourn Loss