On the desk of Doug Green’s new office at Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Station No. 5 is a certificate honoring slain firefighter Mark Blair.

“Mark is not forgotten here,” said Green, a battalion chief.

The certificate, which Green considers daily, is one he wishes didn’t have to be there. It is a tribute to Blair, who lost his life fighting a blaze alongside Green nearly 20 years ago.

Now, the man sentenced to life in prison for Blair’s death is up for parole again, and for Green and other firefighters who worked with Blair, justice hasn’t yet been served.

David P. Winebrenner pleaded no contest to a charge of first-degree murder in October 1987 in Blair’s death. Prosecutors alleged he set fire to his parents’ home, where a roof beam collapsed and killed Blair, who was among those fighting the fire.

He was sentenced to life in prison and has been at various Kansas penitentiaries since then, Kansas Department of Corrections records show.

His parole hearing will be on May 26 in Topeka.

Mark Blair

It won’t be the first time Winebrenner has been eligible for release. Five years ago he stood before the Kansas Parole Board, where Green and fellow firefighter Jim Davies asked that Winebrenner be kept in custody.

Davies, now retired, declined to comment for this story. But he told the Journal-World in 2001 that 15 years behind bars for murder wasn’t enough.

Green said he suspected Davies feels the same way now.

“I know that Jim Davies will be there for sure,” Green said.

The board agreed with the firefighters and Blair’s family then, sending Winebrenner back behind bars.

This month, Lawrence Douglas-County Fire Chief Mark Bradford sent e-mails reminding his crews about the upcoming parole hearing. Green wants to attend again.

A memorial at Fire Station No. 4 pays tribute to Lawrence firefighter Mark Blair, who was killed in a house fire in 1986. The man convicted of starting the fire, David Winebrenner, is up for parole.

For Green, time may heal some wounds – but not all.

“He was convicted of a crime and given a life sentence,” Green said of Winebrenner. “He should not get paroled.”

When contacted at their home in Meriden, Winebrenner’s family said the past 20 years had been difficult for them, and they believed it was time for David Winebrenner to come home.

They would not answer further questions.

The parole battle is certainly about Winebrenner. But for the fire department, it’s also about Blair – the only Lawrence firefighter to die in the line of duty and still a powerful presence on the force.

Twenty years later, a monument to him still stands at Fire Station No. 4. Reminders of his memory still hang on walls and rest on desks in offices.

Firefighters still stay in touch with Blair’s wife, helping her with whatever she may need.

“It’s something that will be with me forever,” Green said.