A faded yellow chair with worn wooden armrests
– which has been reupholstered with care – sits outside of the
maintenance shop at CalFire’s Hollister Air Attack Base.
It was Matthew Richard Will’s, and he loved it.
Hollister – A faded yellow chair with worn wooden armrests – which has been reupholstered with care – sits outside of the maintenance shop at CalFire’s Hollister Air Attack Base.
It was Matthew Richard Will’s, and he loved it.
CalFire Battalion Chief Mark Edria said as he pulled into work, Will would often be standing near or sitting in the chair. It’s one reminder of Will that Edria and the rest of the firefighters at the air base will be sure to struggle with in the wake the 30-year-old firefighter’s death.
“He was just a great guy to be around,” Edria said at a press conference Wednesday. “To know he’s not going to be with us is devastating.”
Will died Tuesday morning from injuries he suffered after the bulldozer he was driving rolled over as he fought the Colorado Fire in southern Monterey County the day before.
He leaves behind his wife, Diana Will, their 10-year-old son Trysten and 8-year-old daughter Elsie – and a void not only with his family, but also with the members of the air base.
While Will’s death remains under investigation, CalFire personnel remembered Wednesday the man they say was jovial and had a big heart and strong hands. He was willing to do anything for anyone, they said.
CalFire Capt. Steve Norris, who directs air operations and flies for the state’s fire department, met Will when the two began working together at the Hollister Air Attack Base in May 2003. Will had moved with his family from San Diego to take the job in Hollister and keep alive the firefighting tradition in his family.
Norris said Will had a strong work ethic. Will took on extra duties and was always trying to improve the work environment for everyone, Norris said.
In addition to driving the bulldozer on the front lines for CalFire, Will also worked in the air base’s shop, keeping equipment maintained from local stations.
Will had also passed through the officer academy, making him eligible to become a captain, Edria said.
“He just passed,” Edria said. “He was very excited.”
Norris was there Monday just before Will was injured. Will told Norris that the dirt was soft on the steep hill he was clearing to contain the right side of the 50-acre Colorado Fire.
“He was a little concerned when he was working the top part of the fire,” Norris said.
At one point, when Will was driving down the steep hill, Norris offered to have an airplane dump water on high flames near his bulldozer.
Will told Norris he would wait. It was the last time Will spoke with Norris, he said.
“He took care of it before it could drop,” Norris said of the flames.
The captain left to refuel before Will’s bulldozer rolled over.
Family members were unavailable for comment Wednesday. Edria said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called the Will residence Wednesday to offer condolences.
A memorial service for Will is being planned.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety and agriculture for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or mv*********@fr***********.com.
