Obituary: Ron Reynolds

With great sadness we report the sudden and unexpected passing of retired Riverside Unit Fire Captain and Husum Fire Department Volunteer Ron Reynolds, on Sunday, July 5, 2026.

Ron started in the fire service as a volunteer firefighter at Sunnymead Station 2 in Moreno Valley, California, in the early 1970s after his military service in the United States Air Force. After gaining employment with the California Department of Forestry (CDF), he faithfully served the citizens of California for 26 years, starting in the Orange Ranger Unit in 1974, until his retirement on Dec. 29, 2000. In the late 1980s, Ron was selected to be one of the first fire captains assigned to the newly formed Riverside County Fire Department Hazardous Materials Response Team, known as “Haz-Mat Sixty-Five” (HM-65), based at Fire Station 65 in the City of Moreno Valley. Ron remained a pioneer on the well-known team until retirement. Ron continued his dedication to public service after his move to White Salmon, Washington, volunteering tirelessly at Klickitat Fire District 3 for 16 years until the summer of 2025 when his body could no longer keep up with his desire to serve. His professional dedication, great sense of humor, and his unique ability to bring calm to chaos shall be remembered by many.