‘He really broke down barriers’: Trailblazing Portland firefighter and recruiter Erwin Warren dies at 72

Portland firefighter Erwin Warren was a humble man.

So much so that his son, Dontá Warren, didn’t learn of his father’s ribbon of merit — or that a summer camp for kids interested in firefighting was named after him — until after his father died on Sept. 3 at age 72.

The cause of death was a heart attack, his family said.

Erwin Warren first made his mark fighting heavy structural fires in Northwest Portland early in his career. He then rose through the ranks, becoming a trainer and recruiter.

He created an apprenticeship program to attract promising firefighting recruits who were women and people of color, and his recruitment efforts landed multiple applicants who would go on to become fire chiefs, including Sara Boone and AJ Jackson .

“I definitely would not be in a position to h