Volunteer Suisun City Battalion Chief Hired to Lead Humboldt Dept.

For nearly 20 years, Ken Woods has volunteered as a firefighter for the Suisun City Fire Department while working his "day job" at the state Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau.

Not only did his volunteer training help him rise to the rank of Battalion Chief in the Suisun City department (which is still a volunteer command post), he was recently hired to be the full-time, paid Fire Chief of the Humboldt #1 Fire Protection District, outside Eureka.

We always say that our volunteers are just as good, if not better, than many paid career firefighters. Ken just proved it by coming in at the top rank!

We're going to miss Ken here in Suisun City, but Humboldt is getting a top-notch professional to lead their fire department! We couldn't be prouder!

Audrey Wong of the Daily Republic has a story posted on the paper's website that starts like this:

SUISUN CITY - Ken Woods loves firefighting so much he worked as a firefighter for nearly 20 years without earning a dime.

All those years have led to Woods, 48, earning the rank of battalion chief, a volunteer position, in the Suisun City Fire Department.

'It's a real sense of helping the community because I live here and care about my neighbors,' Woods said. 'I can directly contribute to their well-being and make a difference in their lives in a situation where they're going through a rough time. I can affect their lives in a positive way.'

Woods will have new neighbors later this month, however. He has accepted the position of chief in the Humboldt Fire Protection District near Eureka and will begin the job Oct. 20.

In addition to leaving the Suisun City department, Woods is retiring after 27 years with the state Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau.

See the full story at www.dailyrepublic.com

The Daily Republic's Brad Zweerink took the great picture of Ken above.