Fallen firefighter to be honored with processional through South Lake Tahoe

Submitted by paula on Wed, 08/12/2015 - 2:54pm

There will be an escorted processional from South Lake Tahoe to Placerville on Thursday to honor 21-year-old Mikey Hallenbeck. The young U.S. Forest Service firefighter, and Sierra-at-Tahoe employee, died while fighting his very first fire on Saturday

The U.S. Forest Service and cooperating fire agencies will escort Hallenbeck from the "Y" in South Lake Tahoe to his final resting place. The procession will start at approximately 10 a.m. and proceed westbound on Highway 50 up Echo Summit, through Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort, down to Placerville. It is expected to end at 2 p.m.

Hallenbeck succumbed to injuries sustained when a tree fell on him during efforts to suppress the Sierra Fire on August 8, 2015.

He will also be honored with a candlelight vigil at Sierra-at-Tahoe Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

The Forest Service invites the public to show support along the procession route, in particular at the Cordon of Honor at the intersection of Hwy. 50 and Hwy. 89 in Meyers. In the Cordon of Honor, people line both sides of the roadway as a show of respect as the procession passes. The procession will pass under American flags suspended from two ladder trucks.

In Placerville, West Slope fire agencies, the Eldorado National Forest and other organizations will show support, with fire equipment stationed along the Hwy. 50 overpasses.

California Highway Patrol advises motorists to be prepared for slow-moving traffic and brief delays along the route.

Private memorial services are planned for Saturday, August 15, 2015. The Hallenbeck family has set up a fund to receive donations on their son’s behalf for funeral services as well as to make contributions to organizations that have helped Michael (Bi-Polar Insights, Green Valley Church, and Wildland Fire Fighters Foundation). Donations may be made in care of Michael – Mikey-Hallenbeck Memorial Fund Account #2099471902 by either going into a Wells Fargo Bank branch or mailing it to: Wells Fargo Bank, Attn: R. Bechtel, 1512 Eureka Rd, Suite 300, Roseville, CA 95661.