Former firefighter honored for service above self

David Robert Soule spent his entire adult life helping the community of Crescent City.

Last month, two months after he died suddenly at the age of 37, the Crescent City Council said thank you by honoring Soule with the Service Above Self award named in honor of longtime Fire Chief Steve Wakefield.

Soule began helping his community while just a child, starting as an explorer with the Del Norte Ambulance at age 14. The day he turned 18, he became the youngest licensed EMT in California history and soon after began volunteering with the Crescent Fire Protection District. For the rest of his life, he volunteered to help his community.

While working full-time as a truck driver and also at Pelican Bay State Prison, he continued to take shifts as EMT with Del Norte Ambulance. He maintained his EMT certification until he died.

On Monday, Fire Chief Bill Gillespie welcomed Soule's wife, Nicole, and their children, Derek and Jocelynn, at his office to hear the honor be announced. Gillespie said Soule was deserving of the honor.

"David did truly embrace the spirit of service above self," Gillespie said. "For me, and I know a bunch of the department, we miss David. We miss him, we miss his giggle and we definitely miss his smile."

Mayor Blake Inscore read a proclamation from the city about the award and said he would be proud to sign it and present it to Soule's family.