Local firefighter who died battling wildfire honored in Coachella

Mecca native Garrett Paiz was honored today at Fire Station 79 in Coachella. His name was added on a diesel truck that displays the names of fallen firefighters from all over the United States.

On October 16, 2017, Paiz was killed in a rollover crash while delivering a truck full of water to help fight the Nuns fire burning Napa County.

Paiz was born in Indio and raised in Mecca. According to Paiz’s Facebook page, he graduated from Coachella Valley High School and studied Agriculture Education and Extension at College of the Desert.

In 2016, he moved to Noel, Missouri to herd cattle before becoming a firefighter there for a year.

His fellow firefighters said Paiz was a kindhearted, humorous man who was very passionate about fire service.

“Anytime we had a wildland fire around where we were, he was always the leader. He would come out and show other guys how do certain things and stuff like that. He was very passionate,” Noel Fire Chief Brandon Barrett told KESQ & CBS Local 2 in Oct. 2017.

Paiz’s family told News Channel 3 they admired that he got to get out of the valley and achieve his dreams.

“He was just one of those kids from a small town in Mecca that actually got out of the town and lived his dreams,” Cinthia Paiz, Garnett’s sister, said shortly after his death. “That’s what he would want everyone to remember him by that he went out there and lived his dreams.”

Dozens of family members, friends, and colleagues lined up to greet his body when it returned to his hometown. Paiz was laid to rest at the Coachella Valley Cemetery.

“It was my desire to get a hold of the Paiz family and get him added to this truck and give him the honor that he deserves. He was a hometown guy, a firefighter, and fellow truck driver. I identify with all of it so it was important for us to do that,” said Randal Rogers, a 16-year fire veteran and driver of the truck that honors fallen firefighters.

Rogers and his wife travel across the country to honor all fallen firefighters.

Paiz’s family was in attendance for the ceremony. At the ceremony today, Cinthia told News Channel 3 they are very proud of Garrett and are honored to see his legacy being remembered.