Cal Fire Battalion Chief Karen Shubin Has Passed Away

Cal Fire has announced that one of their battalion chiefs, Karen Shubin, has passed away after a two-year battle with cancer. Shubin's life ended Jan. 23, according to a Cal Fire post on the agency's official Facebook page. She was 47 years old.

Shubin worked for Cal Fire for 29 years, mostly in the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, and most recently out of the Glen Ellen station, according to Division Chief David Shew who talked to Patch.

Shew said Shubin was diagnosed with brain cancer two years ago and did not go back to work after that.

She is survived by her husband David, a fire captain in San Rafael, and their four children.

By Friday night, more than 550 people had left messages on Cal Fire's Facebook page honoring Shubin calling her a "very dedicated professional" and "fun."

Among the messages: 

"You fought the good fight—rest easy now, you've earned it."

"R.I.P Chief. Thank you for your service." 

"See you on roll call."

"Too young to die."

"It is always sad when we lose our heroes."

The messages have come from firefighters as far away as Sonora, Mexico; Ventura; Madera; and Santa Cruz.

Follow Sonoma Valley Patch on Facebook and Twitter.