Retired Woodinville Fire Chief Dies At Age 67

WOODINVILLE, WA - The fire department announced on Saturday that former fire chief Steve Smith, 67, died on Dec. 3 due to a recent illness.

Smith began his career working as a volunteer firefighter at King County Fire District 40 in Renton. He was hired on full time there in 1978. He became a battalion chief in 1988, and then accepted a job as deputy chief in Woodinville. He became chief in 1996 and served until his retirement in 2005.

"Chief Smith was such a genuine caring man to work for,” Woodinville Fire Chief Grgory Ahearn said. “He always took time to get to know each firefighter personally and help them develop professionally.”

The department said that Smith died of an illness that was discovered earlier in 2016.

Services for Smith will be held Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. at Fire Station 31 in Woodinville. Donations in his memory can be made to the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation.

Image via Woodinville Fire