Two Yakima fire chiefs are on the verge of retiring from the department.
According to a City of Yakima press release, Yakima Fire Chief Bob Stewart and Deputy Fire Chief Mark Soptich will retire in February 2018.
Stewart has served as chief since June 2014 and has spent his entire firefighting career with the Yakima Fire Department (YFD). The City hired Stewart, who is a U.S. Navy veteran, as a firefighter in 1988.
Soptich has worked as YFD's deputy fire chief since May of 2012, according to city leaders. He has also served with the Selah Fire Department and the Hanford Fire Department, as well fire chief at the City of Oak Harbor.
Two retirement parties will be held at the YFD Training Center, located at 807 E Nob Hill Boulevard.