Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Battalion Chief Retires After 28 Years

PLEASANTON, CA — A longtime Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department employee retired this week after 28 years of service to the communities of Pleasanton and Livermore. Battalion Chief Michael Miller started as a Firefighter-Paramedic with the Pleasanton Fire Department in September of 1988. Deputy Chief Joe Testa said Miller has overseen numerous critical programs for the fire department during his career including the mapping and GIS projects, radio communications, the Hazardous Materials Team, the Technical Rescue Program, and is the Agency Representative to Urban Search and Rescue California Task Force-4.

In 2013, Miller was one of several LPFD firefighters deployed to the Rim Fire, which was the fourth-largest wildfire in California's history at the time. During the 2013 interview with Patch, Miller remembered that the smoke was so heavy he almost had to get out of the engine and walk in front of it to see the road.

Miller recalled the most stressful moments at the fire not having to do with what he could see but what he could hear— especially during the night shifts when visibility was even more limited.

"The biggest eye opener for me were the heavy trees or 'snags' suddenly falling at random in the forest after burning," Miller said. "You would just hear a tree fall. It was nerve-wracking not knowing where the snags were coming from when I was sending a team out there."

Read more and see Miller’s incredible photos:

• Firefighter's View of Rim Fire: 'Base Camp Had Burned Twice'

Miller says he plans to spend his retirement traveling, fly fishing and volunteering in the community. A farewell ceremony was held at the LPFD Headquarters in Pleasanton in Miller’s honor on Wednesday morning.

Photos courtesy of the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department