SAN DIEGO -- Firefighters, law enforcement, safety services, and civilians turned out by the hundreds Monday to honor Novato fire Engineer Steven Rucker.
Rucker was killed battling the massive Cedar Fire last Wednesday while saving homes in Wynola, near Julian.
Police cars and fire engines from numerous departments in San Diego County participated in the procession from Qualcomm Stadium to the East County airport.
There, hundreds of public safety personnel gathered to pay tribute to their fallen colleague as law enforcement helicopter crews performed a ceremonial fly-over.
"I think this is part of the healing for the firefighters here, but primarily for the family and all the brothers and sisters of the other departments that are feeling that pain," California Department of Forestry's Mike Shorerock said.
Pallbearers then loaded Rucker's U.S. flag-draped coffin into a military transport plane, which took off about 12:30 p.m., bound for Santa Rosa. Firefighters from the Novato Fire Protection District accompanied the body on the flight.
"It's hard to watch that casket go by and know that this gentleman -- Engineer Rucker -- gave his life in my community -- people he didn't even know and saving the house of someone he didn't know," firefighter Steve Sheppard said.
"We're all a family and we're here to support our brother," Lakeside Fire Chief Ken Kremensky said.
Rucker, 38, died Wednesday near Julian while battling the 280,000-acre conflagration, which also killed 13 civilians.
Novato fire Capt. Doug McDonald suffered critical burns in the same incident, and two other firefighters from that department sustained minor injuries.
McDonald remains "heavily sedated" and on a ventilator at the UCSD Burn Center.
"He's got some pulmonary damage from smoke inhalation," said the Burn Center's Leslie Franz.
But McDonald is expected to recover, she added.
"They do expect that some of his wounds will require surgery," Franz said.
McDonald -- the father of two teenagers -- suffered burns throughout 25 percent of his body.
Crews Close In On Fires
Crews closed in Monday on the daunting goal of containing a pair of massive back-country infernos that combined to create the worst fire crisis in the state's history, 10News reported.
The worst of the two deadly conflagrations, the 280,300-acre Cedar Fire, was 99 percent surrounded by late Monday afternoon. Officials hoped to complete the job Monday night.
The target date for full control of the vast burn area is Nov. 16, California Department of Forestry information officer Roxanne Provaznik said.
The blaze erupted near Ramona the evening of Oct. 25, probably sparked by a lost hunter's signal fire. Over the next week it destroyed 2,820 buildings -- 2,232 of them homes -- and killed 14 people, including a Bay area firefighter.
It also injured nearly 100 crew members endeavoring to subdue it amid rugged terrain, high temperatures and strong, dry winds.
The flames posed no further structural threats by Monday afternoon, as about 2,125 personnel continued working to corral the smoldering blaze.
Meanwhile, to the north, the 56,700-acre Paradise Fire in and around Valley Center was 75 percent contained, with 195 firefighters still assigned.
That blaze, which started shortly after midnight Oct. 26, destroyed 372 structures, including 179 residences, killed two residents and injured 220 firefighters.
It should be fully contained by 6 p.m. Saturday, with full control expected by Nov. 15, the CDF reported.
Investigations continue into the causes of the blazes.
Monday, firefighters' steady progress allowed schoolchildren from around the region to resume classes after a weeklong hiatus caused by dangerously smoky air shrouding much of the county.
Palomar Mountain-area residents got the go-ahead Sunday to return to their community, where crews quelled flames at the foot of the peak Saturday, thanks in part to cold, damp weather over the weekend.
Similarly helpful conditions prevailed Monday, with scattered drizzle and record low maximum temperatures in several areas.
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