By FireRescue1 Staff
FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Community members and fellow firefighters are mourning the death of a retired fire chief who died of breast cancer Tuesday.
Retired Fairbanks Fire Chief Warren Cummings joined the fire service in 1972 and served as fire chief from 2000 to 2015, reported the News Miner. During his time as chief, city officials said the department saw many equipment upgrades.
“He was very concerned about the equipment we had at the city,” councilman Jerry Cleworth said. “He would always be on the lookout for grants and he was kind of legendary for his ability to find them. He was good at stretching the dollar as far as he could make it go.”
Cummings battled breast cancer for five years. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, 2,400 men are diagnosed with it each year.
During his retirement ceremony, Cummings told men to pay attention to their bodies and perform self-exams every month.
“He loved his profession. If you ever walked into his office you’d [see] the various memorabilia that he would collect and you know he loved doing what he was doing,” Cleworth said.
Cummings is survived by his wife and six children.