Dr. Allen Church is a household name in the local first responder community.
The longtime South King Fire and Rescue chief — who dedicated nearly 42 years of service to Federal Way — celebrated his retirement with members of the Federal Way, Des Moines and greater King County communities last week.
Station 62’s engine bay filled with approximately 90 attendees on Friday, Nov. 8 to recognize Church’s retirement, which officially goes into effect on the first of the new year. Chief Vic Pennington will take over as the department’s top command Jan. 1, 2020.
Attendees included South King Fire and Rescue board of commissioners and department employees, SKFR Honor Guard, city leaders, first responder branch partners, community members and family, both relationally and professionally — many of whom referred to Church as a friend.