Jesse D. James was one of 6 Douglas County, Oregon firefighters who died in a fiery, head-on collision with a semi-truck on their way back from fighting wildfires in the Idaho wilderness. There were 2 others who died who resided in Portland, Oregon. The collision occurred when their van tried to pass a tractor-trailer rig on a twisting, two-lane Oregon highway (about 15 miles west of Vale, Malheur Co.), and crashed head-on into another rig, bursting into flames. The victims, ranging in age from 19 to 37, worked for a private fire-fighting contractor, First Strike Environmental, based in Roseburg, Oregon. Fire coordinators said the van that was struck was coming back from a wildfire in the Boise National Forest about 25 miles northeast of the town of Cascade, Idaho.

Twenty-two-year-old Jesse James, saw firefighting as a way to make good money to help support his 3-year-old son, Kolby. It was also a welcome break from working as a dishwasher in Roseburg restaurants, said his grandmother, Donna Tarrant. When he wasn't fighting fires or working other jobs, James spent almost all his time behind the local supermarket practicing his skateboard moves and caring for his son, she said. He had Kolby's name tattooed in big blue-and-red letters across his back; he frequently spoke about wanting to be a model father, Tarrant said.

James didn't finish high school and gave up on his driver's license after failing the test twice. But firefighting was something to be proud of, particularly when he traveled to Texas last spring to help search for debris from the downed space shuttle Columbia. "He felt like he really had succeeded in something he felt so good about. He didn't have to use his head, just his strength and his back," said Tarrant, who raised James from age 4. "This was something he hadn't failed at."

Gov. Ted Kulongoski asked all state flags outside public buildings be flown at half-staff through sunset Aug. 26, 2003. The accident was reported on all major TV news shows.

(The above gathered from various news sources.)

Jesse James was 22 years old and died August 24th‚ 2003. He was on his way home from fighting wildfires in Boise‚ Idaho. Seven of his crew passed away with Jesse.

Jesse went to work for First Strike Environmental the summer of 2001. He was so happy when he passed all the requirements to be a wildland firefighter. He loved his job and had his gear packed and ready to go at a moment's notice. In April of 2003 he went to Texas with many other crews to be a part of the Columbia Space Shuttle Recovery.

Jesse enjoyed the outdoors‚ camping‚ fishing‚ skateboarding and the guitar‚ but the light of his life was hid 3-year-old son‚ Kolby. He loved taking him to the park‚ teaching him to skateboard‚ play cars‚ or just spending quite time with him. Jesse's friends can tell you‚ he spent a lot of time bragging about his son and how much he loved him.

Although Kolby is very young‚ he knows his Daddy is in heaven and he will see him again someday. He talks to him on the phone and asks him if he is having fun skateboarding in heaven. On Halloween Kolby dressed like a wildland firefighter‚ he was so cute!

Kolby's mother‚ Sue and Jesse were no longer together‚ but maintained a good relationship. Just weeks before Jesse died‚ he and his girlfriend‚ Sonja went with Kolby‚ Sue and her boyfriend Brad‚ to the Douglas County Fair. They also all went to the Monster Truck Races.

Jesse was a loving father‚ son‚ and grandson. He is survived by his son‚ Kolby James‚ and Kolby's mother Sue Hammond‚ and his mother‚ Laura James‚ all of Roseburg‚ Oregon. He also leaves his father Brian James and his wife Kay‚ of Medford‚ Oregon. Jesse's Grandparents are Francis Berry of Klamath Falls and George and Donna Tarrant of Roseburg‚ who raised Jesse from the age of four‚ girlfirend Sonja Collins and many aunts‚ uncles‚ cousins and friends.