House adopts resolution honoring Gresham firefighter Brian Flowers, family urges action on job-related cancer

The Oregon House on Tuesday adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 honoring firefighter Brian Flowers of Gresham, who died at age 48 on Nov. 19, 2023, of an occupational-related cancer.

The resolution, presented by Representative Graeber on the House floor, recounted Flowers’ career, family life and service to the Gresham community and described his death as related to workplace exposure during his years as a firefighter.

“Brian loved, and he loved big,” Representative Graeber said in a presentation that brought Flowers’ wife and children into the chamber. Graeber also quoted Flowers’ wife, Elsie, who told lawmakers she was “mad that it was a job related cancer that took Brian” and urged continued work on “better working conditions, gear, safety, health, and retirement.”

The resolution itself recognizes Flowers’ service and offers condolences to his family and colleagues. Representative Ruiz, who spoke in support during floor debate, told the chamber Flowers served more than 15 years in the Gresham Fire Department and described the “tremendous void” his death left in the community.

Lawmakers and family members framed the resolution as both a remembrance and a call to attention around firefighter health. Graeber and others noted that occupational cancers among firefighters have prompted repeated resolutions and that Flowers’ family hopes the recognition will spur improvements in safety and accountability.

The House voted to adopt SCR 24; the clerk later announced the resolution was “declared adopted.” The floor action was ceremonial and did not by itself change safety rules or require new funding.

Lawmakers who spoke on the floor emphasized the personal loss to the Flowers family and urged continued policy work outside the resolution to address occupational health risks for emergency responders.