Memorial honors San Clemente firefighter who died in Rancho Palos Verdes house fire – Long Beach Press Telegram

January 22, 2022

At home or at work in the firehouse, Jonathan Flagler was quick with a grin.

A brave firefighter and devoted family man, he also was a jokester, said those who knew him during a memorial service on Friday morning, Jan. 21. Hundreds of firefighters, friends and family gathered at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos to honor the fallen Los Angeles County firefighter, who died battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes on Jan. 6.

“He protected lives and property as if they were his own, not just this one time but on every incident,” said interim Los Angeles Fire Chief Anthony Marrone. “That’s what noble and dedicated firefighters do.”

Firefighter Matt Holtzendorff, a close friend of Flagler, recalled how they’d lighten things up by poking fun at each other while studying for their captain tests.

“We all have our ideas of why God took him so early,” Holtzendorff said. “The only reason I can think of is that maybe heaven was getting a little bit boring, they needed a little more humor and God thought maybe ‘Sunday Funday’ looked good so he got the best guy out there.”

Supportive sons Jack and Brody Flagler , along with her nephew Matix Hernandez, surround Jenny Flagler as she spoke of her husband, Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler, who died battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes on Jan. 6. The service was held at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos on Friday, January 21, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Matt Holtzendorff, LACoFD firefighter specialist speaks of his friend and coworker, Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler, who died battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes on Jan. 6. The service was held at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos on Friday, January 21, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
A large screen displayed this loving moment as sons, Jack and Brody Flagler embrace their mom Jenny as she spoke of her husband, Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler, who died battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes on Jan. 6. The service was held at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos on Friday, January 21, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Father-in-law Dwight Johsnon, speaks at a memorial service for Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler, who died battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes on Jan. 6. Johnson lovingly called Flagler his son rather than an in-law. The service was held at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos on Friday, January 21, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Family, friends, and firefighters gathered at a memorial service for Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler, who died battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes on Jan. 6. The service was held at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos on Friday, January 21, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Jeff Graves LACoFD firefighter captain speaks of his friend and coworker, Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler, who died battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes on Jan. 6. The service was held at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos on Friday, January 21, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
A bagpiper plays Amazing Grace during the memorial for Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler, who died battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes on Jan. 6. The service was held at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos on Friday, January 21, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Jack Flagler speaks of his dad with his mom and brother by his side, for Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler, who died battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes on Jan. 6. The service was held at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos on Friday, January 21, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Dave Gillotte, president of LA County Firefighters Local 1014 speaks of his friend and coworker, Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler, who died battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes on Jan. 6. The service was held at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos on Friday, January 21, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Niece, Mikiela Hernandez, speaks at a memorial service for Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler, who died battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes on Jan. 6. Hernandez spoke of being Flaglers only niece and the special bond they had. The service was held at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos on Friday, January 21, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Family, friends, and firefighters gathered at a memorial service for Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler, who died battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes on Jan. 6. The service was held at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos on Friday, January 21, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Family, friends, and firefighters gathered at a memorial service for Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler, who died battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes on Jan. 6. The service was held at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos on Friday, January 21, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The final bell is rung during the memorial for Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler, who died battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes on Jan. 6. The service was held at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos on Friday, January 21, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Niece, Mikiela Hernandez, speaks at a memorial service for Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler, who died battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes on Jan. 6. Hernandez spoke of being Flaglers only niece and the special bond they had. The service was held at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos on Friday, January 21, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Family, friends, and firefighters gathered at a memorial service for Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler, who died battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes on Jan. 6. The service was held at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos on Friday, January 21, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Family, friends, and firefighters gathered at a memorial service for Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler, who died battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes on Jan. 6. The service was held at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos on Friday, January 21, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

Flagler, 47, of San Clemente, was among other crew members from Fire Station 83 who responded to the fire at around 2 a.m. on Tarapaca Road. He was overcome with smoke and fire while inside the home and issued a Mayday alert, officials said. He died at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

He was a firefighter for 21 years, serving 19 years with the Vernon Fire Department before joining the Los Angeles County Fire Department in October 2020, when the county took over fire services for the city of Vernon.

He is survived by his wife Jenny and their sons Brody, 15, and Jack, 13.

Jenny Flagler met her late husband at Sharkeez Bar in Hermosa Beach one night in 2000. She said they fell in love quickly. They were married in 2003.

“All it took was one date and I knew he was the man I was meant to spend the rest of my life with,” she said. “I didn’t get the rest of my life, but I got the rest of his. Our time together may have been cut short, but the happiness we shared together will last a lifetime.”

Flagler’s parents and sister died before he did, but his father-in-law and sister-in-law said he was part of their family. He was also a father figure to his niece and nephew.

Holtzendorff said his late colleague “set the bar” for being a husband and father. Fire Capt. Jeff Graves echoed his colleague, recalling times when Flagler would help his sons with their homework over the phone while he was at the firehouse.

Flagler’s two sons said he always made them snacks, helped them in various sports and watched football together with them on Sundays.

“You have been the best dad I could ever ask for. Thank you for always being there for me, for taking care of me, for loving me and for just being my dad,” Jack Flagler said.

A photo and video slideshow shared glimpses of Flagler’s life, including laughter with his children, family vacations and smiles with fellow firefighters on the job.

Flagler was born and raised in San Pedro and graduated from San Pedro High School in 1992. He attended El Camino Community College to take fire science classes and graduated from Rio Hondo’s Fire Academy, eventually moving on to get his bachelor’s degree from Cal State Los Angeles in 2001.

While he spent the majority of his career in Vernon, moving to Fire Station 83 in Rancho Palos Verdes was a homecoming of sorts, just a few blocks away from his childhood home.

Firefighters from departments across the region came to the memorial service, in addition to some law enforcement officers.

“We can celebrate Jon’s rich and powerfully influential life, Jon’s service to so many citizens,” Los Angeles County Firefighter Dave Gillotte said. “So many lives (were) saved because of his commitment to others.”

During the service, the Fire Department’s honor guard held a wooden box containing Flagler’s cremated remains. They presented his family with an American flag.

At the end came the “Ringing of the Bell” ceremony, with three sets of five tolls, signifying a firefighter’s death and commemorating his service.

Then “Amazing Grace” sounded on bagpipes, as four Los Angeles County fire helicopters flew overhead.