VIDEO: A retired fire captain who served the Fresno community for nearly 30 years lost his battle with cancer last week.
Friends who knew him say Captain Walt Sickler was known for his dedication to his family, passion for firefighting and his larger-than-life personality.
“Walt was just a huge character, just a man that everybody loved,” said Fire Captain Paul Garnier. Paul Garnier and Captain Walt Kickler were rookie classmates back in 1996.
“He was always pushing people to be better, always pushing people to do more and be better at what you do,” Garnier said.
Early on, Walt quickly established himself in the world of firefighting. “He Initiated a rescue his first year. He was on probation, and that year he won a Firefighter of the Year award,” said Deputy Fire Chief in Training Jonathan Chew.
Although he was committed to the job, Chew says his devotion to his family was even more inspiring.