An assistant fire chief with the California Office of Emergency Services has died after falling ill at a multi-agency coordination meeting.
According to a line-of-duty death notification from the U.S. Fire Administration, Assistant Chief Ken Hood, who was 50 years old and a 34-year fire service veteran, suffered an acute medical emergency during the meeting in Quincy on Wednesday.
Hood received immediate medical assistance from Quincy Fire Department members and other public safety professionals who were at the meeting, but despite all efforts by first responders and then emergency room personnel, Hood passed away hours later at Plumas District Hospital in Quincy.
The California Office of Emergency Services is responsible for overseeing and coordinating emergency preparedness, response, recovery and homeland security activities within the state, according to the agency's website.
Hood was one of two assistant chiefs with the agency who were responsible for the 13 northernmost counties in the state, including Shasta and Trinity counties where the massive Carr Fire scorched nearly 230,000 acres earlier this year.
