Memorial Service Scheduled in Temecula for Fallen Riverside County Firefighter

A memorial service is scheduled Tuesday in Temecula to honor a Riverside County Fire Department firefighter who died while on duty late last year.

Apparatus Engineer Daniel “Danny” Cook, 45, collapsed and died on Dec. 31 while deployed with his engine crew to battle a garage fire at a single-story home in the 31300 block of Marcuchio Road near Hansen Avenue in Nuevo. According to the fire department, Cook suffered a major medical emergency during containment operations and was rushed by ambulance to Riverside University Medical Center in Moreno Valley, where he later died despite extensive lifesaving efforts.

The memorial service will begin at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Sunridge Community Church on Winchester Road in Temecula. Fire officials said the service will not be open to the general public, asking that the Cook family’s privacy be respected. Personnel from fire departments, law enforcement agencies, and other county departments are invited to attend in support of the family and the public safety community.

Members of the public will be able to observe the service through a live stream on the Riverside County Fire Department YouTube channel.

In a statement, the department said Cook’s death is a profound loss to the fire service and those who served alongside him. He is survived by his wife, Joanne, and six children. Fire officials described Cook as a dedicated professional whose commitment to service and positive influence left a lasting impact on both coworkers and the community.

The garage fire was extinguished within an hour. Two occupants of the home suffered minor injuries and have since recovered. No other firefighters were injured, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.