Mayor’s Statement on the Passing of Training BC Bill Hoover
Published on August 02, 2023
Words cannot describe the depth of sorrow we all feel about the tragic passing of Kirkland Fire Department’s Training Battalion Chief Bill Hoover and his wife, Kristy, on July 21 while traveling out of state.
Bill was a member of the Kirkland Fire family for 31 years. He was a beloved colleague and knowledgeable leader whose legacy will endure. He was a longtime friend - and more - to many in our organization and throughout the region. Bill will be remembered for his dedication to the fire service, to our sense of community, and to family.
Bill’s career is remarkable. Not only was he an outstanding firefighter, Bill was also an Instructor at the State Fire Training Academy and a leader in firefighter training on the Eastside. But it was Bill’s tireless commitment to firefighter health and safety in Kirkland and across the state that made him an extraordinary member of the Fire Service.
One of his biggest contributions to firefighter health and safety was his leadership in developing the “Personal Injury Illness Exposure Reporting System,” or “PIERS,” in Washington. The online system allowed more than eight-thousand professional firefighters in the state free access to report and track injuries, illness or hazardous exposures on the job, over the course of a fire career and into retirement.
Bill was also a co-director of the state chapter of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network – delivering “toolboxes” of books and other resources to help people diagnosed with cancer understand their options. The Network also connects firefighters in Washington with others in the Fire Service across the country to share their experiences of cancer diagnoses and treatment.
Bill was also the consummate public servant - always thinking of better ways to serve our community – and he embodied that notion every day. His quest to provide the Kirkland community with the best-trained, most knowledgeable firefighters was never-ending. He was the Training Chief for Kirkland, providing in-house instruction for our own firefighters. He was also the leader in training operations for Zone 1 – from Bellevue to Snohomish County and east to Kittitas County - for multiple fire agencies. Through this work he became an inspirational mentor to many.
When Kirkland became the epicenter for the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Bill led Kirkland firefighters on rapidly becoming experts in COVID and epidemiology. Bill began working with experts at the University of Washington, Public Health – Seattle & King County, and the King County Medical Director to implement new training protocols for both fire and police agencies. Bill's thoughtful and meticulous methods helped keep our first responders safe in the face of an unprecedented challenge. His training methods, protocols and flow sheets were shared with fire and police agencies throughout the U.S. and became a national model for first responders. Bill’s dedication to firefighter health and safety allowed KFD to continue to serve our community during one of the most difficult times in our City’s - and this country’s - history.
Bill’s experience has been acknowledged with several well-deserved awards over his career. His exceptional leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic earned him a “Community Hero” award by the Seattle Kraken. Bill has received awards for developing the regional recruit academy, for KFD Officer of the Year and KFD Firefighter of the Year.
While awards recognize the highlights of an outstanding career, Bill was much more than a firefighter, a Battalion Chief, and a cherished colleague. His priority to always support, train and keep his brothers and sisters in the fire service healthy shows the depth of his kind and compassionate heart, and illustrates the values we hold dear in the City of Kirkland – to work hard, work together, show initiative and care.
Bill was known among those closest to him for putting family first. Bill and Kristy were longtime Kirkland community members – they were married at Marina Park and raised their family here for many years. Bill and Kristy’s presence in our community and in the Puget Sound region will truly be missed.
Family, friends, first responders, city employees, and the community are all invited to remember and honor the lives of Battalion Chief William “Bill” Hoover, Kirkland Fire Department, and his beloved wife, Kristy Hoover. A memorial service for the couple will be held at Overlake Christian Church on August 24th at 2 p.m.
Those interested in helping Bill and Kristy’s family can find more information at the IAFF Local 2545 website: https://www.iaff2545.org/