For most of his adult life, Dave Willson has been at home in a fire house.\u00a0 Just after the first of the year, Willson will move on to another stage of his life when he brings to an end a nearly 40-year career in the fire service.<\/p>\n
Willson, who has been Yakima\u2019s fire chief for the last two-and-a-half years, has decided to retire in the first week of January.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s time,\u201d said Willson.\u00a0 \u201cOur kids are grown and my health is good.\u00a0 I have the opportunity to begin another chapter and I\u2019m ready to take advantage of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Willson, who started his firefighting career in 1975, joined the Yakima Fire Department (\u201cYFD\u201d) in January of 1984.\u00a0 He had previously worked in the fire service in both PierceCounty and Bellevue.<\/p>\n
Willson has served in several capacities for the YFD, including as a frontline firefighter, technical training assistant, lieutenant, shift captain, and training captain.\u00a0 In 2007, Willson was promoted to a deputy fire chief position.\u00a0 That same year, he was also a finalist for the Yakima fire chief job, which eventually went to Charlie Hines.\u00a0 When Hines accepted a chief\u2019s job in San Luis Obispo, California in November 2010, Willson became the interim YFD chief.\u00a0 In September 2011, the interim tag was removed from Willson\u2019s title and he took on the task of leading a department with a staff of about 90 and a budget exceeding $10 million.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Yakima Fire Department has gone through a lot of positive changes over the last few years,\u201d said Willson.\u00a0 \u201cKey investments have been made to modernize the department and to make it as effective as possible.\u00a0 I\u2019m proud of how far the department has come and I leave it feeling confident that the Yakima Fire Department has a very bright future,\u201d said Willson.<\/p>\n
\u201cDave has provided tremendous guidance during a time of transition for the City in general and the fire department in specific,\u201d said City Manager Tony O\u2019Rourke.\u00a0 \u201cYakima has been fortunate to have benefitted from the outstanding dedication and commitment that Dave has demonstrated throughout his career.\u00a0 He has been an invaluable leader,\u201d said O\u2019Rourke.<\/p>\n
Given what he describes as a \u201cdeep talent pool\u201d within the YFD, O\u2019Rourke is currently focusing on identifying an internal candidate to fill the fire chief position once Willson retires.<\/p>\n
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