Local CAL Fire Battalion Chief Spear Passes Away

Sonora, CA — With great sadness, CAL Fire announces that a local Battalion Chief passed away unexpectedly at his Sonora home this morning.

The statewide CAL Fire office has put out a statement reading, “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Battalion Chief Michael Spear, 46, Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit. Chief Spear passed away overnight at his home in Sonora. We ask that you join us in keeping Mike’s family, his friends, and his coworkers in your thoughts and prayers as they work through their unimaginable loss and grief.”

Of note, Chief Spear had occasionally served as a spokesperson for CAL Fire over recent years, and had often helped bring radio listeners first-hand information about fire’s impacting the region. He also appeared several times on Mother Lode Views to provide fire-safe information to the community.

No information has been released at this time in regards to a memorial service.