February 17, 2005

Local firefighter dies in the line of duty

Thousands expected to attend service of Mark F. McCormack this weekend at HP Pavilion

The Santa Clara County Fire Department is mourning the loss of Fire Capt. Mark McCormack, 36, who came in contact with an energized electrical wire while fighting a four-alarm structure fire early Sunday morning at 15700 Blossom Hill Road in Los Gatos.

This is the first line-of -duty death in the 58-year history of the Santa Clara County Fire Department.

The six residents of the burned home escaped unharmed. The damage is estimated at $1 million and the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Incidentally, the same residents experienced another fire in November 2003.

The cause of that fire was not determined and losses were $390,000.

McCormack’s interest in the fire service began after he was burned in a childhood accident and, as an adult, volunteered his time as a camp counselor for the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation.

“Being a burn survivor himself, Mark brought a unique perspective and true understanding of what our campers need. He showed us his leadership at camp and was a hero to our kids,” said Dave Miller, of the Burn Foundation Board of Directors.

“He was a go-to guy and he was a true role model. He gave the kids strength and hope by sharing his personal experiences as a burn survivor,” said Mike Sanders, a fellow camp counselor and retired fire captain.

“Mark loved Champ Camp and he loved those kids,” said Heather McCormack of her husband.

He spent the past 16 years pursuing a career as a firefighter and paramedic with the Orange County Fire Department, Goodhew Ambulance Service, San Mateo County Fire Department and since 1999, has been with the Santa Clara County Fire Department. He was promoted to captain in December 2004.

Flags fly at half staff as the Santa Clara County Fire Department is mourning the loss of Fire Capt. Mark McCormack, who worked out of the Sunnyoaks Station. Photo by Julie Davis Berry

According to Fire Chief Benjamin Lopes III, “Mark was an active participant in our department. He was an up and comer—doing all of the right things to benefit his professional development. The fire service was more than a job to him, it was his passion. In his off-duty time, he participated in several committees and chaired the department’s safety committee. He had just approached me about developing a plan to place Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public buildings. This is a tremendous loss and he will be missed by everyone.”

McCormack received numerous letters of thanks and gratitude from citizens throughout his career. Most notably, in 2001, he received the Award of Valor recognizing his contributions to both County Fire and the communities it serves. He was a respected member of the Santa Clara County Fire Department Honor Guard, a prestigious unit that represents the fire department at many significant events, including funerals of fallen firefighters.

He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Heather McCormack.

A memorial service for Fire Capt. Mark F. McCormack will be held Saturday, Feb. 19, 2005 at 1:30 p.m., at the HP Pavilion, 525 W. Santa Clara Street, San Jose.

Specific details related to the memorial service, including RSVP information, is posted on the County Fire Web site, www.sccfd.org. General information is available to citizens by calling the Information Hotline at 378-4279. The hotline is staffed M-F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to:

Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation
In Memory of Mark F. McCormack
665 3rd Street, Suite #345
San Francisco, CA 94107

Bank of the West
Mark F. McCormack Memorial Fund
Account #017-012-286
2395 Winchester Blvd.
Campbell, CA 95008