Fire officials expect at least 1,500 people to attend a Saturday memorial service honoring longtime Fire District 6 Firefighter Rick Streissguth and his brother-in-law, Doug Jacobsen.
Both men were killed in a Montana crash earlier this month as they were traveling to acquire an antique fire engine.
The memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds. A procession of fire engines will precede the service.
Dawn Johnson, spokeswoman for Fire District 6, said the district is planning for 1,500 people, with standing room for more. The outpouring of community interest in the service has been “overwhelming” from the fire community and beyond, she said.
“We’ve had inquiries from Seattle and Tacoma,” she said. “On the Oregon side, we’ve had inquiries from Clackamas County and Portland. The fire community is really tight knit. When something like this happens, we come together.”
Rick Streissguth, 45, comes from a family instrumental in firefighting in Clark County.
Rick’s father, Dick Streissguth, began serving the fire district in 1954 as a volunteer and served as fire chief from 1977 to 1994; he is fire district board secretary. Rick’s brother, Steve Streissguth, is a deputy chief with the Vancouver Fire Department.
What: A memorial service honoring longtime Fire District 6 Firefighter Rick Streissguth and his brother-in-law, Doug Jacobsen.
When: 1 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds.
Rick Streissguth started as a volunteer firefighter at Fire District 6, which serves about 66,000 residents in Hazel Dell, Felida, Salmon Creek, Sherwood, and Mount Vista. He became a full-time firefighter seven years later. At the time of his death, he was also an acting captain.
He had “profound knowledge” of the fire service, Johnson said.
“Any question you had, he had the answer,” she said.
Rick Streissguth is survived by his wife, Jennifer, a 15-year-old daughter, Mackenzie, a 13-year-old son, Jacob, and the children’s mother, Erin Rose.
Doug “Jake” Jacobsen, 49, was a long-standing employee of Snap-on Tools’ regional office in Tualatin, Ore. He started there in 1992 as a dealer and was later promoted to field manager and then business manager.
Keith Macglashan, regional manager of Snap-on Tools, described Jacobsen as “somebody that always saw the possibilities.”
“He was a constant team player,” Macglashan said. “He was always there to help you above and beyond.”
Doug Jacobsen is survived by his wife, Kay Streissguth-Jacobsen.
The men were killed the morning of Dec. 5 on Interstate 90 near Anaconda, about an hour west of Bozeman, Johnson said.
The Clark County men were in a Ford F-350 pickup heading eastbound toward Bozeman. Their goal was to pick up the 12th rig in a collection of antique fire engines. The pickup left the freeway and tumbled down an embankment, Johnson said. The two men died on impact.
Rick Streissguth’s son, Jacob, was injured in the accident and taken to a Missoula hospital. He has since been transported to an unnamed hospital in the Vancouver-Portland area and is improving, Johnson said.
On Saturday, firefighters plan to depart the district’s Hazel Dell station at noon and drive to the district’s station in Felida. The district’s antique fire truck, Engine Zero, will lead the procession, followed by four fire engines, two fire chief vehicles and a couple patrol cars from the Longview Police Department.
Company vehicles with Snap-on Tools will also take part in the procession.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Streissguth/Jacobsen Memorial fund can be made at any branch of People’s Community Federal Credit Union.
Laura McVicker: 360-735-4516 or laura.mcvicker@columbian.com.
