The Fairfield Fire Department announced that retired Fairfield Fire Engineer Chris Bell died at the age of 41 on Tuesday morning from job-related occupational cancer.
Bell, who grew up in Vallejo, is survived by his parents, along with his wife and three daughters.
“Today, we mourn the loss of a great man, Chris, who was an extraordinary engineer who you wanted working a fire with you,” said Fire Chief John Sturdee in a news release. “But more importantly, a truly caring husband, father, and friend. We will deeply miss his unwavering sense of humor and infectious, can-do attitude. His legacy is etched not only in the lives of his friends and family, but in this department and with every person he was there for in their time of need.”
Bell served the Fairfield community for more than two decades. After being in the youth program in Vallejo as an Explorer he began with the Fairfield Fire Department in 2003 as a Reserve Firefighter, was hired as a full-time firefighter in October 2007 and was promoted to fire engineer in April 2013.
Bell also served on the department’s Urban Search and Rescue Team during his career. He retired on Nov. 10 of last year.
At the direction of Fairfield City Manager David Gassaway, flags at City of Fairfield facilities will be lowered to half-staff until further notice. Fairfield Fire Department personnel will also wear mourning bands on their badges in honor of Bell.
Officials said memorial service details and additional honors will be shared once finalized in coordination with his family.
“I met Chris around 2004. I was already a firefighter with Fairfield when he became a reserve,” Fairfield Battalion Chief Larry Palmer said. “I am going to miss his sense of humor. He was a great guy, super funny and someone that was always a hard worker. He strove to do a good job, first as a paramedic, then a firefighter and then as an engineer.
“He was very dedicated to his wife and family and wanted to spend a lot of time with them,” Palmer added.
Fairfield Deputy Chief Rich Llewellyn declined to comment on Wednesday, saying he wasn’t the right person to talk having only been with the department for a little over a year. Messages to the Vallejo Fire Department were not returned as of press time with the Times-Herald.