MARYSVILLE, Wash. — The Marysville Fire District is celebrating the retirement of Chief Darryl Neuhoff, who has worked as a firefighter in Snohomish County for nearly four decades.
His career started in 1983 at Snohomish County Fire District 20, where he worked in the Lake Godwin area. Over the next 15 years, he worked as a volunteer and career firefighter before being promoted to Lieutenant, then Fire Chief.
He joined the Marysville Fire District in 1998 after its consolidation and merger with District 20. There, he served as Deputy Chief of Fleet, Facilities and Support Services before being named Interim Chief at Marysville Fire District last year.
Neuhoff remained the Interim Chief until Ned Vander Pol joined the district as Fire Chief in February.
On Thursday, the fire district honored Neuhoff with a ceremony and flag presentation featuring the Marysville Honor Guard.
“We are truly grateful for Chief Neuhoff’s dedication to the residents and employees of Marysville Fire District,” Vander Pol said. “Darryl’s leadership has helped this agency progress during a period of explosive growth and change. There is no doubt he impacted fire and emergency services in this community for the better. He will be very missed.”
Numerous elected officials and local fire agency chief officers attended the celebration, which Neuhoff said was bittersweet for him.
“The fire service allowed me to train, learn, and practice the skills necessary to help impact people’s lives,” Neuhoff said. “As a firefighter, we get to make a difference, and that makes it all so worthwhile … To be a part of that, to work with all these people … that is hard to walk away from.”
He says he is looking forward to traveling and spending time with his grandchildren during his retirement.
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