James C. SAUNDERS

SAUNDERS, James C.
James (Jim) Carlyle Saunders passed away Thursday, October 7, 2010 at the age of 52. He died at Mercy San Juan Hospital in Citrus Heights, California from injuries sustained while fighting a grass fire near Haggin Oaks Golf Course. Jim was born July 1, 1958 in Arcadia, California. In 1974, Jim enlisted with the US Navy as a Boatswain's Mate. He served with honor until 1975. On July 1, 1988, Jim was hired as a full-time Firefighter with the American River Fire Protection District. Prior to that, he worked as a Firefighter for Sloughhouse Fire Department and was a Captain for Jackson Volunteer Fire Department. He later promoted to Assistant Chief with the Jackson Volunteer Fire Department. Jim worked at Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District Fire Station 101, located at 3000 Fulton Avenue, in the Sacramento community of Arden-Arcade. Jim proudly served his community for 22 years. From 2002 to 2005, Firefighter Saunders held a Deputy Director position for the California State Firefighters' Association. He also had a long affiliation with the American Legion and took that one step further by holding a position on the Board of Directors for the American Legion Post 108 Ambulance Service, serving Amador County. Jim's last act as a community servant was to donate his organs, which will benefit three people. His family and his Metro Fire family are very proud of him. Jim is survived by his wife, Holly Jo Saunders; son Erik Hackett; daughter Rachel Hackett-Hernandez (son-in-law Karl Andrew Joseph Hernandez II); grandchildren James, Lucius and Ewan; parents Abe and Alice Saunders; three sisters Colleen Saunders, Kathleen Saunders and Diane Saunders; many nieces and nephews and countless friends.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at Sacramento State University located at 6000 J Street at Hornet Stadium. This will be a traditional line of duty death fire service funeral including a ringing of the bell for the last alarm, a fly-over, and a procession of fire apparatus from the funeral to the reception. Reception will immediately follow the funeral, it will be held at Cal Expo - Expo Center Building 4 & 5 located at 1600 Exposition Boulevard -- enter through Cal Expo main gate. Interment will be private. Metro Fire will continue to update the website, www.sacmetrofire.ca.gov, with details about the services. In lieu of flowers and gifts donations can be made to the Firefighters Burn Institute at hotu ffburn.org. Memorial donations can also be sent to the Sacramento Area Firefighters Widows and Orphans fund by visiting www.saffwidowsandorphans.org. Thank you to the fire service family all over Sacramento for assisting the family with a traditional service for an honorable and admirable man.