RENO, Nev. (AP) - Former Reno Fire Chief Marty Richard has died after a long battle with cancer. He was 73.
Richard spent more than 30 years with the department. He started as a firefighter in 1964 and rose through the ranks before he became Reno fire marshal from 1978-90. He served the next six years as chief before his retirement in 1996.
Among other things, Richard led a statewide effort for new fire prevention building codes after the deadly MGM fire in Las Vegas in 1980. He was a long-time member of the Reno Rodeo Association and helped raise funds for the Shrine Hospitals.
The department says he died at his home in Reno on Tuesday.
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