Trevor C. Madrid

Trevor C. Madrid

Captain Trevor C. Madrid, age 37, of the Mesa Fire and Medical Department died on November 14, 2021, from complications of cancer.

Nikki Sullivan

Nikki Sullivan

Nichol Elaine “Nikki” Imm was born in Denver, Colorado, on February 24, 1974. It was the best birthday present her mother, Gail Imm, ever received. In 1980, the family—parents Nick and Gail and daughters, Adelle and Nikki, moved to Arizona. From a young age, Nikki was involved with competitive swimming and track and field. In junior high and high school, she won many awards. Unfortunately, a quad accident left Nikki with a severely fractured arm and ended her competitive athletic career.

Nikki began college at Yavapai Community College in Prescott, Arizona, before transferring to Arizona State University, where she received her bachelor’s degree. Throughout her college years, a burning desire to become a firefighter began to grow.

In 1999, Nikki began working for Southwest Ambulance and directing everything in her life towards getting hired as a firefighter. In August 2000, she was hired as one of the first three pre-recruits, a new position created by the Mesa Fire Department. During the next year, she helped develop the department SOPs for the pre-recruit position. In August 2001, she graduated from firefighter recruit academy and began her dream career as a Mesa firefighter.

Nikki’s friendship with Tim Sullivan, also a member of the Mesa Fire Department, grew over the years, and they were married in March 2007. In September 2012, they welcomed their daughter, Abigayle, into their lives.

In 2014, Nikki was given the crushing news that she had breast cancer. She battled cancer for five years, believing all along that somehow, she would beat it and God would deliver her a miracle. Nikki’s strength and courage through her battle with cancer will be a source of inspiration for her daughter and stepchildren, as well as all of her friends and family.

She was an amazing woman, and she will never be forgotten.

John Owens

John Owens

John Owens and Winston West were rushing to respond to a fire alarm when their truck collided with a sedan. Both men, volunteers, were thrown from the truck and died. Owens had been an electrician with the City of Mesa, and West was known to his friends at the Fire Department as Owens’ “right-hand man.”

Winston West

Winston West

John Owens and Winston West were rushing to respond to a fire alarm when their truck collided with a sedan. Both men, volunteers, were thrown from the truck and died. Owens had been an electrician with the City of Mesa, and West was known to his friends at the Fire Department as Owens’ “right-hand man.”

Carl W. Shoemaker

Carl W. Shoemaker

Submitted by his wife

Carl absolutely loved being a fireman. He was known for saying‚ ‘and they pay us for this!’ When he was a little boy he dreamed of being a fireman and in 1980 his dream came true. He loved fighting fires‚ rendering medical aid‚ the rescues‚ working the scene‚ and the lights and sirens.

By 1986 Carl was an engineer for the Mesa Fire Department and pursuing his degree in Fire Science. The man who didn’t like school was pulling straight A’s. Then on June 30‚ 1986 he was on the way to a training exercise when his LTI made national news. It collided with a dump truck full of wet mortar sand. It was a horrible accident and sent four firemen to the hospital. One died during surgery and Carl was to spend the remainder of his life dealing with terrific pain‚ 27 hours a day‚ as he would say.

Carl filled those long hours‚ when he could work‚ in a woodshop. He built so many things such as rocking horses‚ shelves‚ pinewood derby plaques‚ picture frames. Sometimes he would weld things‚ pool fences‚ gates‚ and trailers. He did work for the church and for the neighborhood. He gathered his six children and played with them. He received an award for courage and was Arizona’s Firefighter of the Year in 1987. We will always love him and cherish his memory.

Jack Robert Stevens

Jack Robert Stevens

Submitted by his daughter

Survivors include: his wife‚ MaryBeth‚ and 4 daughters.

Submitted by a Coworker

Captain Jack Stevens

1955-1986

Captain Jack Stevens was killed in the ‘line of duty’ on June 30‚ 1986. He suffered fatal injuries when his ladder truck collided with a 26 ton dump truck at the intersection of Lindsay and University in Mesa. Captain Stevens died in surgery later that afternoon at a local Trauma Center. He was 33 years old‚ and a 10 year veteran of the department. He is survived by his wife Mary Beth and four daughters.

Captain Stevens was dedicated to the fire department‚ his family‚ and was a devoted Christian man. When on a vacation with his best friend‚ the question arose of what he would want on his headstone if he were to die unexpectedly‚ his headstone reads:
‘He served the purpose of God in his generation and fell asleep’

Captain Stevens is dearly missed by his brothers and sisters of the Mesa Fire Department‚ he was courageous and brave the day he was called home to the Lord!