Bellingham Fire Chief Bill Boyd has announced his retirement.

The 53-year-old Boyd has served with the Bellingham Fire Department since 1983 and was appointed chief in 2003.

He’s led responses to some of the worst disasters to strike the city, including the Whatcom Creek explosion in 1999, the Whatcom Middle School fire in 2009 and the Squalicum Marina Boathouse fire earlier this year.

Mayor Kelli Linville said in a news release that Boyd has “served his community with distinction, honor and a great deal of heart.”

Boyd is taking a senior management position with a private firm in Ferndale.