Station 19 honors Jim Koenekamp in penultimate episode (dedication explained)

The Station 19 penultimate episode left viewers with many questions to ponder. Would Theo pull through after being injured in the field and needing to be airlifted? Would Travis join Vic in moving to Washington to help establish Crisis One? Most importantly, would Maya manage to make it out of the precarious situation she found herself in when she became separated from Andy and surrounded by fire all around her? 

Needless to say, the episode gave fans a lot to think about and discuss, but it also left them with a bit of an unexpected question that came after the episode wrapped. Before the credits began rolling and the promo for the series finale aired, Shondaland paid tribute to a late member of the Station 19 family with a dedication that has fans eager to know more about the man the episode was dedicated to.

Station 19 honors Jim “JK” Koenekamp

The penultimate episode of Station 19’s final season closed with a touching tribute which read., “In loving memory of Jim “JK” Koenekamp which was designed to honor a man who helped create the show we all know and love. Koenekamp sadly passed away at age 61 in April 2024, and the tribute was designed as a way to celebrate his life and impact on the show. 

While his name might not have jumped out immediately, this is likely because Koenekamp was not part of the cast but rather worked behind the scenes in a major capacity. You see Koenekamp oversaw the company Fire in Motion, a company that strives to provide high-quality fire apparatus to film and television productions in order to help make them as accurate as possible. His company supplied everything from ambulances, fire engines, and various other pieces of equipment featured on the show to help give Station 19 a realistic and accurate. 

A former firefighter, Koenekamp founded Fire in Motion decades ago and has been working in the entertainment industry for over 30 years helping provide fire apparatus to countless productions. In addition to Station 19, Fire in Motion has also been involved in supplying rigs and equipment to Grey’s Anatomy, Lucifer, Criminal Minds, The Mentalist, Bones, NCIS: Los Angeles, CSI, CSI: New York, Dexter, Rizzoli & Isles, Parks & Rec, The Office, The Defenders, and many other iconic shows and movies! 

He’s been an integral part of the Station 19 family for years and even showed up to help support the cast during the 2023 actors’ strike. In a tweet last October, Jason George thanked Koenekamp directly for bringing out the 19 Fire Engine as a sign of support. 

On behalf of the Hidden Remote family, our thoughts go out to Koenekamp’s loved ones and the entire Station 19 family!