BOTHELL, Wash. — Bothell Fire Lt. Kirk Robinson recently died from cancer that doctors say was related to the job – it’s a type of melanoma associated with exposures victims come across while firefighting.
On Saturday, people gathered to raise money to help support the young family he left behind.
“He impacted so many lives – thousands,” said Jim Vandertoorn, battalion chief with the Bothell Fire Department. “He had a huge heart, huge heart,” he said.
Robinson served with the Bothell Fire Department for 18 years.
“Anywhere he goes, he reaches out to everyone. He was a magnet for people,” said Michelle Pidduck with the Shoreline Fire Department.
Two years ago, Robinson was diagnosed with stage four melanoma -- a certain type associated with firefighting. He died on Oct. 4th.
“There's a foam we use, a fire retardant, that's connected to this type of melanoma,” Vandertoorn said. “That (cancer) is now becoming a leading cause of our deaths,” he said.
It's a growing concern, but Saturday – it was about Robinson and his legacy.
“I would say he's a mountain of service to others. Extremely compassionate. His tank never emptied. He helped everybody, whether he was on duty or off duty, he was always doing something for somebody. Incomparable in terms of that, he was just incredible. I love him,” Vandertoon said.
Vandertoon and Robinson both volunteered to help out in the aftermath of 9-11. Robinson also built houses in Mexico, volunteered to fight wildfires -- you name it.
Now, he's gone.
“It’s brutal. When you know someone who is the epitome of health, super fit, super healthy, always very active, definitely not what you expect,” Pidduck said.
The spaghetti dinner and auction fundraiser was supposed to help cover his medical costs. A lot of his treatment wasn't covered by insurance and a GoFundMe that a friend started said his co-payments cost $5,000 per month.
But now the fundraiser will help his family – his wife and boys ages 8 and 10.
Studies show firefighters are 9 percent more likely to develop cancer than the rest of the population.
There will be a memorial for Robinson on Thursday in Redmond.
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