Submitted by his Mother

Danny’s dream as a young boy and teen was to become a firefighter. His contributions and investment of time and resources to the US Forestry Department were shown through his service as seasonal employment in 2005 and 2006.

Daniel Najera was educated from grades K-8 in Riverside‚ Antioch and Utah‚ often attending Seventh-day Adventist schools while traveling with his grandparents who built churches around the world. He attended 8-12 grades in San Jacinto‚ and graduated from Mountain View High School in 2004.

After his graduation from high school he applied to the forestry service. He began his vigorous training everyday and eventually became a seasonal employee in 2005. When the season was over Danny began to work at Lowe’s distribution center and continued to hike and skateboard daily. Skateboarding was definitely a favorite past time of Danny. He would often arrive at home with a broken board and ask for a ride to the skateboard shop either to replace it and/or skate shoes that had been worn out while on his skateboard excursions.

Danny was known and respected by his family and friends as an individual of integrity; a man of leadership and a warrior for what he believed was right and just. He had the ability to perceive people’s honesty and motives.

Daniel Kurtis Najera was born on March 25‚ 1986 and left us on October 26‚ 2006. His mother and stepfather‚ Gloria and Efren Ayala Jr. and brother and sister‚ Monica and Michael as well as many family‚ friends and extended family will miss him greatly. The US Forestry Department family and the City of San Jacinto will miss Daniel‚ Mark Loutzenhiser‚ Jason McKay‚ Jess McLean and Pablo Cerda – the brave warriors who bravely fought the Esperanza fire and at the same time fought for the safety of our community.

Submitted by his Father

IN MEMORIAM OF DANIEL HOOVER-NAJERA. The Hoover Family has struggled with the loss of their son and brother. We appreciate that the media has been respectful of our need to grieve privately and that the same respect will continue throughout this very difficult time.

Daniel Hoover-Najera is the son of Timothy Hoover. On October 26‚ 2006 the family lost a son‚ a brother‚ a nephew‚ a cousin and friend. It is every parent’s worst nightmare to lose a child.

Danny found his passion and calling in this life. He loved fighting fires. Just a few days before his tragic death‚ Danny was visiting his father‚ Tim‚ his step-mother‚ Lisa‚ his sister and brother‚ Nikki and Billy and cousin‚ Laura and telling them how much he ‘wanted to be on the fire engine’. When he spoke about being a fire fighter you could see the light of true happiness in his eyes. This was the beginning of a young man’s journey.

Tim‚ Lisa and the Hoover family would like to express their deepest respect for the U.S. Forest Service fire fighters who are on the front lines everyday making sure their community family is safe and protected. You started out as fire fighters and became family. You have shown us the true brotherhood and the love you all share and now we all share that with you.

A special thanks is extended to the team of Angels that was available to us anytime of day or night; John Flores‚ Mark Von Tillow‚ Stacy McLain‚ and Anthony Stornetta. We would also like to thank Jack Brown and the Stater Brothers Family for their generosity and support. Words cannot describe what it has meant to the family having you there by our side‚ gently guiding us and helping us through this difficult time. Your kindness‚ compassion and thoughtfullness will never be forgotten. We also want to thank Pastor Greg Laurie and Pastor Steve Ballinger of Harvest Christian Fellowship for their spiritual guidance and support.

The Hoover family would like to extend our thoughts and prayers to the families who lost fathers‚ sons‚ brothers‚ nephews‚ cousins and friends in this tragedy.

Danny is loved by many people – both family and friends and brother firefighters and will be forever missed.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

The Hoover Family – Tim‚ Lisa‚ Nikki‚ Billy and Laura

Submitted by a USDA Forest Service Family Liaison

Firefighter Daniel Hoover-Najera was one of five firefighters killed while protecting a structure on the Esperanza Fire‚ October 26‚ 2006.