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CORVALLIS - An educational shelter commemorating nine firefighters who lost their lives in a 1994 Colorado fire will be dedicated Saturday, June 8, at Oregon State University's Peavy Arboretum.

Viewing of the shelter area will begin at 12:30 p.m. with public dedication and tree planting ceremonies set at 1 p.m. George Brown, dean of OSU's College of Forestry, will preside.

Dedicated will be a 45-foot open-air shelter to be used for instructional and educational forestry programs at the arboretum. The new facility has been constructed and landscaped by the college and the OSU Research Forests.

Some parents of the "Prineville Nine" who died on Storm King Mountain are expected to attend the ceremonies, which will include the planting of nine pine trees in a semi- circle around the shelter to honor the deceased firefighters. A commemorative plaque also will be unveiled.

Former OSU students Rob Johnson of Roseburg, Jon Kelso of Prineville, and Terri Hagen of Dallas were among those killed in the July 6, 1994, Colorado fire. Two other former OSU students, Tony Rambo of Central Point and Brian Lee of Terrebonne, survived the tragedy.

In September 1994, a unique ceremony at the OSU-Wyoming football game paid special tribute to the Prineville firefighters. Nine skydivers carried seedings into Parker Stadium during those ceremonies. The seedings have since been nurtured in outplanting beds, and will be replanted in honor of the fallen firefighters.

Peavy Arboretum is located six miles north of Corvallis, off Highway 99W. Signs will direct visitors to the dedication site.