Kennewick fire marshal who spent decades trying to make people safe has died
.JPG "Benton County Fire Marshal Ken Williams, left, talks about homeowner fire protection Monday as Benton County Commissioner Leo Bowman looks on during a Benton County fire danger news conference in Richland in 2000.")
Ken Williams spent decades trying to make people safe from fires.
The 78-year-old former fire marshal had a career that spanned from the 1970s to the late 2010s in both Kennewick and Benton County.
He died Tuesday after an extended illness. The Army veteran lived in the Tri-Cities for about 70 years.
As part of his work in Kennewick, he helped investigate suspicious fires, enforce building codes and crack down on illegal fireworks.
“He had a wonderful personality. People just liked him,” said former Kennewick Police Chief Ken Hohenberg.
As part of his work as a fire marshal, Williams became a reserve Kennewick police officer. And he often would go out on the Fourth of July to help when rounding up dangerous fireworks.
Williams had a way of talking to people that got them to understand what needed to change, and why. That was particularly useful during those Fourth of July patrols.
The former fire marshal was working for the city when they officially banned fireworks in the early 1990s.
He also was part of the Tri-Cities Crime Stoppers board for at least 10 years. The organization collected anonymous tips and offered rewards for information on suspects wanted for crimes.
“He made his mark on the Kennewick Fire Department,” Hohenberg said. “He was a great fire marshal.”
In addition, he taught fire science at Columbia Basin College.
“He liked to invest in people,” Hohenberg said. “I think that is one the reasons people were attracted to him.”
After several decades with the city, he retired and joined Benton County as its fire marshal.