Steven Liss Rucker

Steven died while battling the huge fire as he tried to save a house near Julian, North San Diego County. Steven was 38 years old and was an 11-year veteran of the Novato Fire Protection District. Even though he lived 400 miles away, he came to this community to help. He died for them. He traveled into a community that was not his, and lost his life trying to save the house of someone that he did not know. He is survived by his wife, Cathy, and two children. Before serving as a firefighter/paramedic in Novato, he served as a paramedic for the American Medical Response in Concord, California. He helped countless people during his career. "He helped a lot of people and touched a lot of lives," his sister said. "He was a real hero. We are very proud of him." Steven has been honored in numerous ways since he passed away. And one of the greatest honors bestowed upon him was the naming of a portion of a highway after him. The Steven Rucker Memorial Highway is a 15-mile stretch of state Route 79 that connects the beautiful mountain communities in North San Diego County that Steven fought to save.