Sonoma Community Leader, Fire Chief Dies
SONOMA (CBS) -- Mitch Mulas, a prominent Sonoma County farmer and community leader who served as the Schell-Vista Fire Protection District's chief for more than 40 years, died Thursday, according to the fire district.
The lifelong Sonoma resident was a second-generation Sonoma Valley dairy farmer and grape grower, and received the "Lifelong Contributor to Sonoma County" award from the Sonoma County Harvest Fair, according to the district.
He and his father, Michael Mulas, helped form the fire district in 1942, and Mitch Mulas had been its fire chief since 1968.
He was a board member for the Southern Sonoma County Resource Conservation District, served on the Sonoma County Farm Bureau's board of directors, and spent 12 years on the Sonoma Valley Unified School District Board, the fire district said.
He attended Sonoma Valley High School and received the "Sonoma Valley Salute to Education Award" in 2005.
Mulas is survived by his wife Nilda Mulas; children Vickie Medeiros, Ray Mulas, Mike Mulas, and Carolyn Mulas; six grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.
Information about services for Mulas will be forthcoming, according to the fire district.
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