Ripon is mourning the line-of-duty death of a veteran firefighter who was well known and respected throughout the community for his work with the Fire Department and the city’s youth.
Dave Luis, 58, who died Nov. 24 following a three-year battle with cancer, served the Ripon Consolidated Fire District for 26 years as a firefighter, captain and chief officer. Ripon Fire Chief Dennis Bitters said his department is struggling with the death of Luis, who was a husband, a father, a friend and a mentor to many in the Ripon community. “It’s difficult even when you have time to prepare for the loss of a loved one and someone you worked with for 26 years,” Bitters said. “He was quite a guy.”