Processional, memorial set for Fire District 6 firefighter

A processional and memorial service are set Tuesday for retired Clark County Fire District 6 firefighter-paramedic Joe Killian, who recently died from cancer.

Killian, who served the fire district for 26 years, retired four years ago and was subsequently diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer that is linked to the fire service, according to Fire District 6.

“Joe used to say that being a firefighter was the best job in the world,” Fire Chief Kristan Maurer said in a written statement. “He loved it because he had the ability to turn a bad thing into a good thing.”

The processional will leave shortly after 10 a.m. from the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds, followed by an 11 a.m. service at Liberty Bible Church of the Nazarene, 12401 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave.

The fire district is expecting a large turnout for the public service, and there will likely be traffic disruptions in the area, the agency said. The service will also be streamed live; the link will be available on the agency’s website at CCFD6.org.

January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month. Firefighter occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the fire service. According to the International Association of Fire Fighters, from 2015 to 2020, 75 percent of the firefighters added to the Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial died from occupational cancer.

Fire District 6 said it continues to work toward reducing toxin and pollutant exposure.