Kevin Skinner, 56, dedicated his life to serving others. A 25-year veteran of the Orange County Fire Department, his compassion and dedication to supporting the community extended beyond his official role as a public servant.
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Nicknamed “Skindog” by his colleagues, this firefighter and fire equipment engineer touched the lives of many people throughout his career. He worked overtime at stations throughout Orange County to provide guidance, guidance, and a listening ear to those in need. His colleagues deeply missed him after he suffered a fatal cardiac arrest while on duty in a house fire in Laguna Niguel on January 5th.
“He led with heart,” said Battalion Fire Chief Juan Perez. “And if eight adults sitting here crying in front of strangers isn’t proof of who he was, I don’t know what is.”
The battalion chief sat alongside other colleagues and longtime friends of Skinner. Some had known him for only a few years, others for decades. Engineer James Watson said the feeling of loss is still the same, similar to processing a death in the family. He was irreplaceable to them, and everyone in the department seemed to remember him.
One Thursday evening, engineer Serge Morosov said he came out of the station and found Skinner conducting a ceremony for aspiring firefighters in the reserve program. Earlier in the day, Morosov handed Skinner a gold coin commemorating 10 years of volunteering that the reservist had received in the mail. Knowing what it was, Skinner decided to hold onto it tightly and perform a little ritual for the recipient among his peers.
If Morosov had not left at that moment, he would never have known. It was truly a “skin dog”.
“He hated giving kids coins and saying, ‘Thank you for coming for 10 years,'” Morosov said. “He created a meaningful ceremony that one could remember and leave an impression on young people to help them understand what it meant to be involved in a job like this. I was thinking of making one.”
On a busy day at the 22nd Precinct, two fire trucks were on the move throughout the day, and Fire Equipment Technician Cameron Spicer competed with Skinner to see how many calls he could rack up during a long shift. He also loved being an engineer, from driving to taking care of his crew. He took pride in keeping his rigs tight, clean, and ready. In between, Skinner continued to teach, smiling and being there for others.
“He worked in one of our busiest (firefighting) houses and when he came down in the morning he was smiling. Some of the people who have been here for only a few years, Sometimes people cry,” Spicer recalled.
Capt. Robert Bucho, who was recruited with Skinner, said he helped boost the group’s morale during their time at the military academy, when they struggled to master the Horsley technique and were yelled at by their instructors. Bucho said he was a good barometer for keeping everyone on good terms and on an equal footing. I was like, “It’s okay, I’m sure you’ll get through this.”
His concern for others was reflected in his bedside manner during phone calls.
“He was able to come down to the level of their grief needs and empathize with whatever it was on the phone. That’s a hard skill to learn at 2 a.m. It didn’t matter. He was professional and I knew I could trust him,” Bucho said.
For some, his charming personality will be the highlight of a difficult day at work. He was laid back but professional and always ready to take on a project or come to our table for coffee and ask how we were doing. He loved to share his knowledge and experience with others and if he had a question he knew the answer or where to find it.
“We were lucky to have him. He inspired everyone in this room,” Spicer said.
Skinner served four years in the U.S. Navy before joining the fires. He is survived by his wife, Lucia, and three children, Sierra, Kate, and Zach.
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