Dillon Barousse Memorial

I first met Dillon in the spring of 2017. I had just left Utah where I was working on a wildland fire hand crew, and accepted a position on a fire engine in the Olympic National Forest. I remember the first day I met him like yesterday, Dillon and another coworker were showing me around the shop. His demeanor was something I was familiar with coming from a structured crew. In my young naïve firefighter brain, I was nervous about taking an engine job and losing that structure. He made me feel at ease in the decision I made without even knowing it, sensing that he valued the same things I did, being an assistant fire engine captain. It helped that he was wearing a well-worn hotshot hoodie, hard work he was proud of.

That summer went on, starting out in the Southeast U.S., a place Dillon was familiar with since he had worked on Asheville IHC. Sometimes this job is mysterious, the way that it connects you with people. I couldn't seem to get away from Dillon that summer. Each engine assignment that came up was almost a sure bet that Dillon would act as the engine captain, and I would be his apprentice. I wont lie to you and tell you it was always good times. He challenged me in ways I didn't understand at the time, but appreciate those lessons now. He pushed me and taught me so much that year, not only in fire but in life. We spent so many hours talking about life, and books he read that I would never read. We laughed and told stories, and spent a hot summer afternoon leaning on an ice cold 1,800 gallon pumpkin (used to hold water like a swimming pool for fire fighting) watching the pine trees blow in the wind. He helped me get a position on Asheville IHC, which I would work on for the next few spring seasons. Another gift that Dillon gave me without knowing it.

Dillon unexpectedly passed away in the line of duty the spring of 2018. Leaving behind his beautiful bride Holly, Brown dog Norman, sweet dog Ella, and a couple of cool goats. Dillon and Holly had dreams of buying land and building a beautiful home on it. They locked down the land and were working hard that winter to make the land their own.

Dillon's passing has been devastating, he had so much more to accomplish in this life. My heart breaks for Holly, to pick up the pieces after his passing. This memorial will be a quiet place she can sit in nature, and feel Dillon's love.

We have been working hard to create a memorial site on the Olympic National Forest, where friends and family can share laughter and tears when talking about Dillon. This will also be a place where the new generations of fire fighters can sit under big pine trees blowing in the wind, and learn about Dillon's story. We cant forget fallen firefighters, we cant forget the sacrifice they gave, we cant forget the life they lived. We cant forget Dillon.

Thank you for your kindness, and don't forget to never take the little things for granted. Enjoy the company of your fire family, you mean more to them then you might ever know.

Lindsey