04/22/2026
Terrific idea. Go get your red lightbulb on Saturday. Read the full details below. Let’s support our local firefighters.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
• Coeur d’Alene Fire Department: Deputy Chief/Paramedic Bill Deruyter, [email protected], 208-769-2340
• Kootenai County Fire and Rescue: Captain Seth Hohenstreet, [email protected], 208-777-8500
• NFFF: Chris Colton, [email protected], 845-642-0762
Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue to Glow Red Honoring Fallen Firefighters Ahead of National Memorial Weekend
Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls, ID— The Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and the Kootenai County Fire and Rescue will illuminate their fire departments in red, as well as community buildings, from April 26 through May 3, as part of a national tribute to firefighters who have died in the line of duty.
The annual Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters campaign, led by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), invites communities in all 50 states to remember their bravest by glowing red lights on their landmarks, businesses, firehouses, and homes.
Light the Night leads into the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland, where the names of 204 firefighters who died in the line of duty will be formally added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial on May 3.
Battalion Chief John Morrison of Coeur d’Alene Fire Department and Battalion Chief Frank Harwood of Kootenai County Fire and Rescue will be among the fire heroes added to the National Memorial, giving this year’s observance special significance for the departments and the community.
“Lighting our community in red is a powerful symbol of remembrance and respect,” said Interim Fire Chief Bill Deruyter of the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department. “It’s a way for all of us to stand together and honor the sacrifice of firefighters who gave their lives in service to others. This year, it holds even deeper meaning as we remember Battalion Chiefs Morrison and Harwood, whose legacy will forever be part of our department and our community.”
Approximately every three days, flags at the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation are lowered to half-staff to honor a firefighter who has died in the line of duty in the U.S. “Light the Night gives communities a simple way to take part in remembrance,” said Victor Stagnaro, CEO of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. “For the families who have lost a firefighter, these lights mean more than you’d know. When a firehouse, landmark, or front porch turns red, it says their loved one is not forgotten. That their sacrifice still matters. And that we’re all standing with them.”
Paying Tribute Locally and Nationwide
Light the Night allows communities to participate in remembrance wherever they live and work. Individuals can install a red light bulb at home, while municipalities, businesses, and fire departments illuminate buildings or public spaces during the week leading up to Memorial Weekend.
Participation has grown steadily since the tribute launched in 2017, expanding from a small commemorative effort into a widely recognized public observance. Past participants have included:
• One World Trade Center, New York City
• Willis Tower, Chicago
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), California
• Skydance Bridge, Oklahoma
• Hundreds of municipal buildings, fire stations, and community landmarks nationwide
Nearly 80 well-known landmarks are expected to participate in Light the Night this year.
How the Community Can Participate
Residents and businesses in Coeur d’Alene and the entire Kootenai County are encouraged to participate by: displaying red lights at homes or workplaces; letting the NFFF know you’re glowing red via optional registration; spreading the word in your community; and sharing photos using or by emailing [email protected].
Attend the Red Light Bulb Giveaway at the CDA Lowes , sponsored by Lowes and Feit, Saturday April 25, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to noon, or until the bulbs are gone. Limited number per home.
Other Memorial Weekend Observances
Light the Night is one of several public ways to recognize fallen firefighters during Memorial Weekend. Additional observances include:
• Joining all federal buildings, including the White House and the U.S. Capitol, in lowering the American flag to half-staff on Sunday, May 3. Issuing a proclamation is also encouraged for municipalities.
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About the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF)
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) was established by the United States Congress in 1992 to lead a national effort in honoring America’s fallen firefighters. Since then, the Foundation has created powerful programs that pay lasting tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while providing meaningful support to their families and colleagues. Through its close partnership with the fire service and its affiliate, the First Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE), the NFFF is also deeply committed to reducing firefighter line-of-duty deaths and injuries. To learn how you can support this important mission, visit www.firehero.org.
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