Bellingham firefighter killed in off-duty accident was ‘always willing to help people’
A 19-year veteran with the Bellingham Fire Department died Monday, June 29, in an off-duty tractor accident on his property in Whatcom County, the department announced in a Facebook post Wednesday evening, July 1.
Brian Cain, who spent 12 years working for the Bellingham Public Works Department before spending the last 19 with the fire department died at the scene of the accident. He was most recently assigned as a ladder truck operator at Station 5 on Northwest Avenue, the post said.
“This sudden, tragic loss has struck the members of our department deeply,” Chief Bill Hewett said in the post. “Our hearts are broken and we are struggling to find a way through this terrible time.
“Know that while we will continue to be here to help you when you need it, we’re working through the grief of losing a member of our fire department family.”
Though he may have been best known in the community for his time working as a firefighter, Hewett told The Herald that was not the only place Cain made an impact. Hewett said he’s been hearing from people who worked with Cain at Public Works and family and friends throughout the community who will miss his smile and sense of humor.
“He’s got one of those infectious smiles,” Hewett said in a phone interview. “He was always grinning and laughing. He was a conscientious, hard worker, and he came to work and gave everything he had while he was there. In addition to being a rock-solid firefighter, he was a just happy to be there.
“We were talking about it yesterday — for someone who had 19 years on the job, when we arrived on scene, he was the first person grabbing his kit and going through the door to help people. His enthusiasm at work — it was like every day was his first day.”
Cain also previously had volunteered as a firefighter with Whatcom County Fire Districts 14 and 1, according to the post.
District 1 Chief Mel Blankers told The Bellingham Herald that Cain spent six years with his department and was a valuable mentor and trainer in his time with District 1.
“He was a great EMT (emergency medical technician), and I totally trusted him on calls with patient care,” Blankers said. “He was just a solid firefighter and EMT. ... He was a really nice guy — always willing to help people and do his part to contribute and give back.”
District 14 Chief Jerry Debruin said Cain, who has also had a number of family members serve as battalion chiefs in the district, also played a valuable role in instruction when he was with that district between 1996 and 2003 at the Welcome fire station.
“Brian was an exceptional guy,” Debruin told The Herald. “He was super nice. ... Brian was a great trainer and instructor. He was so valuable to so many people. His loss is obviously a huge loss to the fire service, because his contributions were huge.”
Hewett said Cain also was active and generous with his time to help his community in a number of ways, even handling the mowing and landscaping at a cemetery in eastern Whatcom County.
“Everybody in this department has a Brian story — a moment they shared with Brian and a special connection they made with him,” Hewett said. “We’re up to almost 200 folks now, so that’s saying a lot. ... It’s a heartbreaking loss for a lot of people, not just those of us in the fire service.”
Cain is survived by his wife, Stacy, and two children, Chad and Olivia, and was looking forward to becoming a grandfather soon, the post said.
The Bellingham Firefighters (Retired) Facebook page set up a photo album in memory of Cain, and numerous fire and law enforcement agencies across the county posted condolences to Cain and those that knew him.
Whatcom Fire District 1 crews were called to Goshen Road at 9:05 p.m. Monday night for the report of a rescue, according to the PulsePoint app.
Video posted by Whatcom Breaking News Monday night showed firefighters and police officers from across Whatcom County lined State Street in Bellingham leading up to the medical examiner’s office to pay respect as Cain’s body as he was taken there.
Dr. Gary Goldfogel confirmed to The Bellingham Herald in an email that Cain’s death was accidental.
This story was originally published July 2, 2020 at 12:14 PM.
