Hundreds of firefighters, and other public safety workers said goodbye to a Santa Barbara County based firefighter who died in a traffic accident.
Family members, friends, and colleagues packed a Santa Maria church Wednesday to honor Los Padres National Forest Battalion Chief Gary Helming. The 47 year old firefighter died August 31st when he was returning home to the Central Coast after helping to battle a forest fire north of Fresno.
He was a firefighter for more than 20 years, and leaves behind a wife and three children.