San Diego Fire-Rescue Mourns Loss of Engineer in Off-Duty Accident
Sunday morning was greeted with sadness by San Diego Fire-Rescue Firefighters as they learned one of their own had passed away the night before, in an off-duty motorcycle accident.
Engineer Ryan Ferrara, 39, a 13-year veteran of the department, was described as “A great, always kind man who always had a smile to give to anyone” via a San Diego City Firefighters, IAFF Local 145 post. San Diego Fire-Rescue described Ferraro “As a beloved member of our fire family”.
Ferrara started his career with the City of San Diego as a seasonal lifeguard in 2001, working summers as a seasonal lifeguard and Junior Lifeguard Program instructor until he was hired as a fire recruit. In February of 2007, he began the 68th SDFD Basic Fire Academy, graduating as a firefighter 1/paramedic in June of that year. He was promoted to firefighter III/paramedic in March of 2012 and achieved the rank of engineer in August of 2016.
Ferraras’ final duty station was Station 21, C shift, which is located about a block from the Pacific Ocean in Pacific Beach. It was also the location of a memorial service held Tuesday evening on the sand.
Those who knew him posted stories and memories about him, one being the time he was off-duty and arrived at a structure fire, closing doors to prevent fire spread, then pulling hose to hydrants to lend a hand to arriving fire crews.
A second firefighter was injured in the crash and is recovering from his injuries.
Ferrara is survived by his mother, father and a brother.
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