Firefighters Mourn the Loss One of the Own

The firefighting community is mourning the loss of Deputy Chief Greg Turner, a 27-year veteran of fire service.

Deputy Chief Turner died Aug. 23 after a long battle with cancer of the brian, according to fire officials.

"He had brain cancer, which is seen very frequently in firefighters because of exposure to toxins (during firefighting work)," Chino Valley Fire Chief Kirk Summers told the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. "It's an unfair situation, but firefighters suffer disproportionately from cancer."

Deputy Chief Turner joined the Chino Valley Fire District in July 2001, where he oversaw the Operations Division and most recently the Fire Prevention Bureau. He was also part of the Colton Fire Department for 27 years.

Under his leadership, the Chino Valley Fire District implemented the Make a Child Smile Program in December 2002. The program pairs children with a uniformed firefighter or police officer and Walmart personnel. Children are given an allowance of $130 to use toward the purchase of holiday gifts.

A memorial service was held at Montecito Cemetery in Colton.

Deputy Chief Turner is survived by his wife, Mindy; son, Bryan (a Chino Valley Fire District firefighter and medic); daughters, Brittany and Annessa; mother, Wanda Martin; father, Wes Turner; daughter-in-law, Michelle; grandson, John and granddaughter, Jordyn. He is preceded in death by son Jeremy, who passed away at birth.