The Yakima Fire Department is honoring three firefighters with nearly a century of combined service in our community.
The department hosted a retirement ceremony for the men Tuesday afternoon. Today's ceremony formally recognized Deputy Fire Chief, Ted Vander Houwen, who has served 24-years in the Yakima Valley and seven years in Renton.
Station Captain, Rocky Willette has served 31-years in Yakima, and Station Captain Tim Whitehurst served 28-years in Union Gap and two years in Yakima.
Captain Whitehurst shared with us what he'll miss most.
"Comradery. Being able to have all the friendships, everybody watching each other’s back, and being a family," said Whitehurst.
Whitehurst says he's now moving to Idaho to do training for a fire district there part-time.