Sparks Fire Chief Walt White has announced that he's retiring after nearly 40 years of fire service.
“Serving as Fire Chief has been both an honor and a privilege, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated professionals throughout my career,” Chief White said in a letter to City employees.
“I also want to thank the members of the Sparks City Council, all of my fellow department heads, allied agency fire chiefs, namely Dave Cochran and Rick Edwards, for their collegial support as well as the dedicated men and women of the Sparks Fire Department, who serve our community each day with courage, commitment, and PRIDE.”
"We are incredibly grateful for Chief White’s steady leadership, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to the Sparks community,” said City Manager Dion Louthan. “Chief White played a key role in developing and executing the department’s strategic plan while reinforcing the core values of professionalism, respect, integrity, devotion to duty, and empathy throughout the organization. He helped guide the department through significant growth, challenges, and accomplishments, always keeping service to the community and support for his personnel at the forefront. His impact on the Sparks Fire Department and the community will be felt for years to come, and we wish him nothing but the very best in retirement."
Chief White’s last day of service will be Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
Before moving to Sparks, White was the Fire Chief in Amador County.
(City of Sparks)
