Mayor Jim Matherly confirmed former Fairbanks Fire Chief Warren Cummings died Tuesday night after a hard fought battle with breast cancer.
Cummings became a firefighter in 1972 and worked his way up through the ranks until he was named fire chief in 2000. He retired in October 2015.
“The fire service in Alaska has lost a great leader,” said a post on the City of Fairbanks Fire Department Facebook page. “Please keep the Cummings Family in your thoughts and prayers tonight. Announcements on services and ceremonies will be made at a later time.”
Cummings is survived by his wife, Cathy, and six children.
Councilman Jerry Cleworth, who was mayor for a portion of Cummings’ time as fire chief, said it was a “real joy” to work with Cummings.