Remembering WR Fire Chief Ernest Wood

A pillar to our community has passed, and his loss is felt widespread. At the age of 94, after raising four children, 13 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren, serving his country during World War II, and giving 25 instrumental years to the City of Warner Robins that would leave the city far safer a place than he found it, Chief Ernest Wood is now resting in peace.

Born and raised in Gainesville, Georgia, Wood joined the military as a teenager in 1944 to serve in the United States Navy. He served in the South Pacific until 1946, the same year that he married Margaret Stewart. He and his wife were married for 74 years.

Chief Wood served as Assistant Fire Chief at Boca Raton Air Force Base, and in June of 1959, was hired as the first Fire Chief for the City of Warner Robins.

Alongside the first 10 firemen that he hired, Wood completed the consolidation of the Myrtle Street Fire Station. During his time as Fire Chief for Warner Robins, the department grew from 10 to 140 employees with four fire stations. Three of those who served under him became Fire Chiefs of their own departments in different cities, and due to the hard work of the WRFD, the city’s classification came down from a Class 10 to a Class 3.

During his time working for the city, Chief Wood started the Fire Safety Education Program for Houston County Schools as well as the Blood Pressure Program. He was a member of the Georgia State Firemen’s Association, serving as secretary and treasurer, as well as a Trustee for the GSF Pension Fund. In addition, Wood served as a member to both the International and Georgia State Fire Chiefs Associations.

After holding the honored position of the Commander of the VFW in 1962, and 1963, serving as Deputy Director of the consolidated Police and Fire Departments until deconsolidation 1973, and working as Public Safety Director from May 1983 until 1984. Wood finally retired after many decades of serving his county and his city, and playing an incredible role in the growth and development of Warner Robins.

Chief Wood is survived by his wife, Margaret, as well as his four children, 13 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Reflecting on Woods, Warner Robins Fire Chief Ross Moulton stated, “He’s the father of the fire department, the cornerstone, the foundation of Warner Robins Fire Department. His service and his leadership is what has made our fire department what it is today.”

Deputy Chief Bobby Wood shared his thoughts as well. “He believed in God first, family second and fire department third. He always set that example. You could just tell by being around him and his family members. He was passionate about the fire department. He came here and he started the fire department in 1959,” Wood said. “He gave us our start, and he started the fire department that we are today. He was proud of us, and we were proud of him. He’s been a part of us. Even after he retired he’s been a part of us.”

Houston County Fire Chief Christopher Stoner said, “He’s a great man, he’s left a great legacy and laid a tremendous foundation for the City of Warner Robins and their fire department. They’ve taken and built off of that foundation, but it started with him.”

Warner Robins Mayor Randy Toms expressed, “To me, he was the actual epitome of a hero. He was a great dad, a great grandfather and husband. They were just a couple months shy, he and his wife, from being married 75 years. That’s an example for all of us to follow well. He was a friend of mine and a mentor of mine.” Toms went on to add, “He was a true public servant, and he loved his firefighters all over the state. If you bunkered up, he loved you.”

Chief Wood worked incredibly hard to build a family-oriented fire department in his city, making it not just a work place, but also a home.

Chief Ernest Wood was a titan to our community, and his loss will be felt, not only by his family and friends and not only by the people that knew him, but by the entire community of Warner Robins. The work that he has sewn into the fabric of the city and the history of Warner Robins will stand as an ongoing legacy. Chief Wood will not be forgotten.

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