SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Scottsdale fire trucks weaved through the city's streets on Tuesday as Valley first responders gathered to pay their respects to a fallen firefighter.
Captain Kory Yule died on Jan. 7 after a battle with myeloma – a bone cancer that affects a disproportionate number of firefighters.
“He was a courageous, skilled, competitive, and most importantly, a caring person,” said Scottsdale Fire Chief Tom Shannon at a memorial service Tuesday at Highland Church in Scottsdale. “He cared for those around him with great authenticity and genuineness.”
Scottsdale Fire said Yule was fighting the disease for a year before passing away.
Those in the fire service have a 1.5 times greater chance of suffering from myeloma than the general population. Chemicals and chemical reactions during fires are believed to be a key factor in the increased chances of firefighters developing various types of cancer.
“Kory will be remembered for many things but what I loved most and respected him for was that he was a man of true character who put others before his own,” said Captain Brian Dutcher.
Yule was considered a generational leader of the Scottsdale Fire Department. His colleagues said his loss will be felt for years to come.
“This is going to impact us for many generations because when the recruits would come out of the academy, we would send two or three his way,” said Captain David Folio. “His truck – when he was on Ladder 602 – was designed to have a recruit on there all the time because he [Yule] knew what he was doing.”
At 42 years old, Yule leaves behind a wife and four children.
“As good as a firefighter that he was, it pales in comparison to the kind of father, husband, brother, son, and friend that he was,” Dutcher said.
Yule’s father is the chaplain of the Scottsdale Fire Department.
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