Help with brothers funeral. Killed in Hurricane Helene

In Memory of My Brother, Ryan Comeau

July 24, 1981 – September 29, 2024

Life changed for our family in 2019 when we lost my father. Grieving but determined to honor his memory, my brother Ryan made a life-altering decision. He left California, his home near Plumas National Forest, where he had been a firefighter, to join fire crews across the United States. Ryan had a passion for protecting people and nature. He fought wildfires from the West Coast to the heartland, always striving to make a difference.

This past September, Ryan had plans to go camping with a group of his friends. They were avid outdoorsmen, drawn to rivers and remote trails, where they felt most alive. But none of them could have foreseen the devastating storm that would change everything. Hurricane Helene struck with a ferocity no one could have predicted.

We hadn’t heard from Ryan since the storm. Weeks turned into months as we held onto hope but prepared ourselves for the worst. Desperate for answers, our family searched tirelessly, contacting local authorities, federal agencies, and anyone who might help. We felt the weight of systemic failure—delayed search efforts, limited resources, and a lack of urgency when every second mattered.

Two months after Hurricane Helene, a private recovery team from Tennessee called us. They had been combing through the hardest-hit areas, trying to bring closure to families like ours. They told us they’d found remains they believed to be my brother’s in North Carolina.

I flew to identify Ryan, knowing my mother couldn’t bear to do it. Seeing him and confirming it was truly my brother was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. The pain was indescribable, but it was mixed with relief that we could finally bring him home.

Now, we are working to have Ryan’s remains cremated and sent back to Texas, where he’ll receive the burial he deserves. He was a hero, not just as a firefighter but as a brother, a son, and a friend. Ryan lived his life with courage and a relentless drive to serve others.

As I navigate the bureaucratic maze of state and federal agencies for support, I can’t help but feel that more could have been done. If rescue efforts had started sooner, perhaps Ryan and others might still be here today.

This week, I’m reaching out, hoping to find help through this site. My family wants to honor Ryan with a proper burial, one fitting for the man he was.

Ryan Comeau, you will always be remembered. You fought the flames, braved the storms, and brought light into our lives. Rest in peace, brother.

My name is Danielle Comeau, and I am reaching out to share the story of my brother, Ryan Comeau, in the hopes of raising funds to honor him with the funeral he deserves.