C.D.F. Veteran To Call It A Career

Sonora, CA — The California Department of Forestry will be losing one of its mainstays this weekend.

Sunday will be the final day on the job for Dan Ward who has served as the battalion chief at the Columbia Air Base since 1995.

Overall, Ward has spent 38 fire seasons with C.D.F. joining the firefighting ranks as a mere junior in high school. In addition to fighting fires from the ground and the air, he has driven fire engines, he´s a peace officer and a registered professional forester.

So what´s next for Dan Ward? He´s headed for a career of flying float planes in Alaska. His last day on the job with C.D.F. at the Air Base will be this Sunday.

While he loves flying, Ward says what he will miss the most are the personal relationships he has forged over the years with fellow C.D.F. employees. Ward summed up his 38 year career this way, “It´s been fun.”

Written by Bill Johnson