LAKE WENATCHEE — The chief of Chelan County Fire District 9 has retired after 20 years with the district, including the last five as chief.

Rod Fountain is a native of Long Beach, Calif., who served in the U.S. Air Force before moving to the Lake Wenatchee area.

The Fire District 9 commission has appointed Mick Lamar, a retired career firefighter from the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, to replace Fountain as chief.

Lamar and his wife Trish moved to the Plain area in 2005, a Lake Wenatchee community spokesman said in a news release.

The fire district also covers the Plain and Chiwawa areas.

During his tenure as chief, Fountain was named Firefighter of the Year, received the Fire Service Support Award from the Rivercom emergency dispatch center and recognition for his support of the U.S. Forest Service’s “Smokey Bear” program for forest fire prevention.

His wife, JoAnn Fountain, has been active in department fundraisers, including the annual Labor Day garage sale, Christmas Bazaar and Pancake Breakfast.

— Christine Pratt, World staff