‘Never forget the sacrifice’: Memorial dedicated to fallen Portland firefighters could get revamp

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Many people look up to heroes, with a special place in their hearts for those who save lives.

But when it comes to Portland firefighters who died in the line of duty, the recognition of their sacrifice has been hard to find.

In May of 2023, an arson-fueled blaze destroys the May Apartment building on Southwest 14th. Firefighters battle the blaze for hours. While the building was destroyed, multiple lives were saved.

Local history, however, reveals a different story.

More than 100 years ago, Portland firefighter Karl Gunster died at the same apartment building, entering the burning third floor to save people inside.

How does Portland publicly remember Gunster, as well as other firefighters who died in the line of duty? With a fenced-off, decaying memorial along West Burnside Street. The memorial is in need of repair and largely forgotten by the public.

“Like any historic thing, if we don’t remember where we were, we’re going to make the same mistakes moving forward,” said retired firefighter Don Porth.

Porth, along with Rick Graves from Portland Fire & Rescue and KOIN 6 anchor Jeff Gianola, recently visited the memorial that has been damaged by vandals over the years.

“There used to be 36 nameplates each representing the 36 firefighters who died in the line of duty. Fourteen were pried out and stolen, others were damaged in the process,” Porth said.

Porth is now leading the effort to restore the names and the memorial, and move on from Portland’s ugly past.

“For behaviors to get out of control. This is the result. That’s the sad thing and I hope we are on the rebound from that and things are going to get better as we repair this place and bring it back to life,” Porth said.

A proposed new design would bring the memorial back to life, consisting of a community plaza surrounding the original design, including a brass relief depicting former Portland fire captain David Campbell, to whom the memorial is dedicated to. Campbell died in 1911, fighting a massive fire at the Union Oil building on SE Water and Salmon.

“It’s said that 150,000 Portlanders lined the streets of Portland to bid him farewell. No other gathering before or after for any public official or anybody has occurred at that level and that really speaks to who he was,” Porth said.

The newly designed memorial still honors Campbell but will also include new nameplates of all fallen firefighters.

Portland firefighter Travis Chapman helped restore some of the damaged nameplates. They now hang on the walls of the fire station where those firefighters last served.

“It’s so important that we teach the next generation what had been sacrificed for us. They were doing the same job that we were and it’s just as dangerous today as it was then. Just never forget the sacrifice they made,” Chapman said.

Like all proposed projects, it takes time and money. Porth is confident the money can be raised.

Out of the first $1.6 million raised for the project, $100,000 of it came out of the pockets of Portland firefighters.

While this is a public memorial, it is also something very private for firefighters — a place where they can come and reflect.

“It’s nice to appreciate those who have gone in front of us,” Graves said.

Will a new refurbished firefighter memorial become a reality? It’s a question Portlanders need to ask themselves. Those who paid the ultimate price are waiting for an answer.

Those interested in donating to help rebuild and refurbish the memorial can donate at Campbell’s website.

On Thursday at 10 a.m., people can honor fallen firefighters by attending the annual David Campbell Memorial Ceremony held this year at Lone Fir Cemetery. The ceremony is held every year on June 26, when Campbell died in the line of duty.