Hood River City Council paid tribute to its out-going fire chief Monday, passing a resolution stating Chief Devon Wells “devoted time, talents and energy to the Hood River Fire Department for more than 16 years.”
#Wells will remain in Odell and volunteer with his home Wy’East Fire District as well as HRFD, and plans to both work in fire service specialty areas and to spend more time with the family orchard operation.
#“Chief Wells has distinguished himself by working tirelessly to achieve the highest standards of performance of the Hood River Fire Department,” states the resolution.
#“It’s been an awesome journey,” said Wells, who has served as chief for the past eight years, and a total of 16 with the department. He credited the city’s department heads as “hands down, the best you will find anywhere,” and said of his own fire crew, “You won’t find a better-served community than this one.” Referring to both the police and fire ranks, he said, “Don’t forget they’re under-staffed,” saying that both department have made gains as the city has rebounded financially in the past four years, but that both are down three employees.
#“I know this is political, but we need to get that level of service back,” Wells said.
#Wells’ honor came early in the four-hour council meeting; he returned later for an executive session meeting, on the topic of fire department employee negotiations.