Carson battalion chief’s name to be added to memorial wall

The name of Carson City Fire Battalion Chief Richard Chrzanowski, who died of cancer, will be added during ceremonies Saturday to the Nevada State Fire Fighters Memorial wall.Chrzanowski, known to everyone as “Ski,” was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer the day before Thanksgiving in 2009. He died on New Year’s eve some five weeks later with his family by his side.The fire battalion chief had devoted 36 years to fire fighting and, according to colleagues, was a stickler for detail to be sure fire apparatus and stations were in proper condition for emergency responses.“He deserved it after 36 years of dedicating his life to the fire service,” his widow June Chrzanowski said.Chrzanowski started his fire fighting career in 1974 in Glendale, Ariz., also working in Flagstaff and Sedona in that state before taking a post in Ukiah, Calif. He served there as deputy fire chief from 1991-93.Chrzanowski and his spouse, June, then moved with their two daughters to Carson City.The Saturday ceremony adding Chrzyanowski’s name to the memorial wall is set for 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Mills Park. The wall is located near the pavilion on the east side of the park.The event is open to the public so Carson City residents can join in to honor the late fire fighter’s life and service.Also being added to the wall is Clark County Fire Engineer Jerry Harper. Harper, 57, died on Sept. 8, 2011, as the result of a heart attack while he was on duty at Clark County Fire Station 13. Harper was a 20-year veteran of the Clark County Fire Department.The addition of Chrzanowski and Harper and will bring the total number of names on the Nevada Firefighters’ Memorial wall to 66.The Nevada Firefighters’ Memorial was completed in 1994 and is maintained by a tax-exempt, non-profit organization including representatives from the Nevada Fire Chiefs’ Association, the Professional Fire Fighters of Nevada, Nevada State Firefighters Association and several Nevada career and volunteer fire organizations.