Memorial Procession Planned For Rancho Adobe Fire Capt. Kyle Heard

SONOMA COUNTY, CA— Firefighters throughout Sonoma County were preparing this week to honor and commemorate the life of one of their own.

A memorial procession begins at 2 p.m. Saturday as several Sonoma County public safety agencies escort Rancho Adobe fire Capt. Kyle Joseph Heard and his family from Rancho Adobe Fire Station 2 in Penngrove to Luther Burbank Center for the Arts for his memorial service.

Heard died unexpectedly Aug. 16 when he suffered a medical emergency, according to the Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District and Professional Fire Fighters of Sonoma County IAFF Local 1401.

He was 43 years old.

The loss has profoundly impacted the tight-knit fire community.

"Capt. Heard was not only a dedicated member of the fire service but also a devoted husband, father, son and brother— deeply loved by his family and the community," his fellow fire officials said.

Heard was "a devoted husband to Rachael, and a proud father to Logan and Parker. His family was his life, and he devoted himself to ensuring their happiness and well-being."

He was a 21-year Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District veteran, where he rose to the rank of captain. The district provides services to Penngrove, Cotati and unincorporated areas of Petaluma.

"He served with unwavering perseverance and was always ready to respond. His contributions extended beyond emergency responses as he played a crucial role in training new firefighters and maintaining the district equipment to ensure the safety of his fellow firefighters," Rancho Adobe FPD and IAFF Local 1401 said in the release.

His bravery and expertise were evident as he and his team tackled some of California's wildfires, his fellow fire officials said.

"Kyle, your spirit will always be with us. Rest in peace, brother; we have it from here."

Procession Route

Starting around 2 p.m. Saturday, the procession will travel along Old Redwood Highway North and pass through the city of Cotati. It will then continue onto U.S. Highway 101 North through Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa. The procession will exit at River Road and proceed into the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts complex.

The California Highway Patrol will temporarily hold on-ramp traffic to northbound U.S. Highway 101 to accommodate the procession.

The Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District and local public safety agencies advised the public that traffic on some of the surrounding roadways may also be impacted by traffic delays along U.S. Highway 101 North.

Pay Your Respects

The memorial service is a private event, closed to the general public at the request of his family.

"We recognize that members of the public and public safety agencies may wish to pay their respects to Captain Heard along the procession route or on highway overpasses," the agencies said. "We encourage all those participating to prioritize safety at all times."