James Rose started working with the Brawley Fire Department as a paid call firefighter on October 16, 1971. He was hired as a full-time firefighter nearly two years later. During that time, he moved on as an acting captain and assisted the battalion chief on duty. He was known for being a big part of the community, serving as a coach for the local little league team for many years. He passed away in 1997, after a long battle with jobrelated throat cancer.