A Pasco Fire Department leader received statewide recognition recently. The Washington Fire Chiefs organization honored PFD Chief Bob Gear with the Chief Dan Packer Fire Chief of the Year award at their annual conference in Kennewick. Gear was one of the nominees for the award, which goes to someone who performed exceptionally and professionally over the previous year. He says it feels good to win the award, but adds that it was a team effort. “I really got the award because of the people that work with me and the good work they do and the relationships and how far the Pasco Fire Department’s done in the last 10 years since I’ve been there.” The Dan Packer Award is named after a western Washington fire chief who died in 2008 while fighting a wildland fire in California.