Retired Merced Fire Chief passes after 44 years of duty

MERCED, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Retired Fire Chief Kenneth Mitten has passed away, the City of Merced Fire Department announced Friday.

According to the occurrence department, Chief Mitten dedicated 44 years of work to the City of Merced arsenic a firefighter earlier retiring successful 2010. He served 28 of those years arsenic Fire Chief.

"Chief Mitten was a cornerstone of our department, known for his leadership, commitment, and the lasting bequest helium near behind," Interim Fire Chief Casey Wilson said. "His contributions to our assemblage and the brotherhood wrong our ranks volition ne'er beryllium forgotten."

According to Cal Fire, Chief Mitten started his vocation with Whittier Fire Department successful Southern California. On his archetypal day, helium was dispatched to a large blaze astatine 3 buildings successful downtown Whittier.

"The adjacent morning, the Los Angeles Times had my picture, holding a hose, saying 'new fireman gets oriented,'" helium said, laughing.