It’s not too often that you lose 60 years of fire service experience overnight. Veteran Moreno Valley Firefighters David Ruiz and Jeff Harper each retired after 30-year careers, including spending a combined 35 years serving the City of Moreno Valley.
The City Council recently honored the veteran firefighters. Before they retired, Harper and Ruiz spent the last several years training the new generation of firefighters, ensuring their Sunnymead Station 2 was in good hands. Ruiz, who was named the City’s Firefighter of the Year in 2012, spent the last 19 years assigned to Moreno Valley Truck 2.
Prior to working in Moreno Valley, Ruiz was a Wildland Firefighter assigned to CAL Fire Helicopter 301. Harper spent his last 16 years assigned to Truck 2. Harper previously worked as a firefighter in the CAL Fire/Riverside County Fire Department Wildland program.
Ruiz and Harper earned reputations for being highly-skilled firefighters especially knowledgeable in Urban Search and Rescue, Low and High Angle Rescue, and Auto Extraction. They used their extensive experience to mentor young firefighter/paramedics newly assigned to Moreno Valley, preparing them to take over Truck 2. Ruiz and Harper plan to spend their retirement years travelling and spending time with their families.
Thank you Firefighters Ruiz and Harper for your dedication to the City of Moreno Valley. Congratulations on your retirement!