Arson Investigator – Arson Section
Deceased:
01/14/2022
Appointed:
01/05/1976
Pensioned:
01/07/2011 – Arson Section
Details about the Celebration of Life
Donations:
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, PLEASE SEND DONATIONS TO:
Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund
PO BOX 41903
Los Angeles, CA 90041
Rick was another one of the good guys gone too soon. Condolences to the Chew family.
Rest in Peace my friend.
Although I never worked with Rick we became friends through our love of Motorcycles, and did many rides both in the dirt and on pavement. I was shocked to hear of his passing at such a young age. The last communication we had was a text because he was on O2 and couldn’t talk. I will miss my friend, and think of him every time I’m on 2 wheels. RIP Rick
I use to run into Rick on Arson calls. He and Rick Price
were two of the best Arson people to work with.
Both with a great sense of humor,
R.I.P. Rick and thank you for your service.
Like RTP I never worked with Rick. I would see him at the lunches at the lafd museum or at the breakfast clubs in Simi valley. Rick was free entertainment and a lot of fun to be around. Rest in peace my brother.
I rode out with Rick on two or three occasions, as I once considered becoming an Arson Investigator. He made the job look fun and intriguing at the same time. He was the consummate professional.
Rick was just a great person. He has gone on to be with the Lord. Rick was always a pleasure to be around and I will miss him. Rest in Peace Ricky……
I spent more than 4 years in arson as a captain and came to know rick very well. He was a pleasure to work with and a lot of fun to be around. If there was a free meal in the arson section, rick would show up with his whole family, wife and kids and take home a bowser bag for the next day. Rick attended so many fire dept. functions and was liked by everybody. Rick my friend RIP, you will be sorely missed. My condolences to the Chew family and the LAFD family, he has left us way to young.
Rick and I became friends over the years. He responded to many of our fires with the Arson Unit. We also had a common interest in cars. He was building a Hot Rod and we talked several time about the Hemi engine he was using. After we retired we would meet at car shows, always a pleasure to visit with Rick. The Munoa family sends their condolences to the Chew family. Rest In Peace my friend you will be missed.
I worked around Rick when he first came on the job and I was an A/O. . His first house was FS-35.. The first morning before line-up someone put the lawn tools for the station in the kitchen. I am not sure if it was one of our shift ( “B” shift) or the off going shift. . The Captains had concern and Captain Burnidge called all of us one by one into the front office .and were told this is not to be done. I was busy checking the inventory and fueling the truck so I didn’t actually didn’t see the lawn tools. When Captain Burnidge told me that we can’t do something like that, I asked what he was talking about. When he told me I started laughing and got counseled for laughing. I talked to Rick later that day and he just laughed it off. I am pretty sure he came from working on freight trains before coming on the job. Throughout our careers, I knew Rick as a very level-headed individual and he was very happy getting into the Arson Section. Rick you left us way too early and we all miss you.
I am shocked and saddened to learn of Rick’s death. He was such a familiar face for so many years coming to fires as part of his Arson duties. He had a great sense of humor and was extremely proud of his family. My condolences to his family.
Rick and I were not only neighbors at Frank’s, but we both lived in La Canada. I had the good fortune to know the on duty and the off duty Rick.
You made the Department and La Canada happy places.
Repose in peace.
Ian MacFarlane
My friend Rick, you always welcomed me at events, I so enjoyed the deep conversations we shared about various world events. Your pleasant smile and demeanor will be missed.
…it’s ALWAYS a shock when those you work with over 30 years is gone, I still would see Rick each Memorial Day Parade in La Canada/Flintridge while driving the LAFD Bandwagon, His Cousin Dr. Chew (DDS) was our family Dentist for years, Ricks Dad & Uncle had a Chinese Deli @ Alameda & 10th Street many years ago that Rick & his Cousin would work @ as a young boys, so very sorry for Rick’s passing, Rest Peaceful my Friend!
Rick and I attended Luther Burbank Jr. High School together in Highland Park (12’s district) After graduation in 1966 our family moved to Eagle Rock and I lost contact with him. Then in 1978 I was assigned as a new Engineer at Fire Station 82. One of the Firefighters assigned with me was Rick. 82’s district is very complex and I was studying our first-in-district map on my first evening when Rick entered the locker room where I was studying. I thought maybe he had some insight into the district or some kind of useful information but instead Rick said: Hey Mike I’ve got a riddle for you: A man lives on the 20th floor of a high rise building. Every morning he gets up, gets dressed, eats breakfast, takes the elevator to the lobby and goes to work. After work he goes back home, enters the lobby but takes the stairs back up to his 20th floor apartment. Why? Being stressed at my new assignment, new job and being on probation I said: I don’t know Rick can I think about it tomorrow and get back to you? Rick said: Ask questions. I said: What? He said again: Ask questions. At that point we both just started laughing uncontrollably. The following shift at 0630 Rick approached me on the apparatus floor and said: Hey Mike…He was short…He couldn’t reach the “20” button. I sure enjoyed Rick. He is now in the care of the best! Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rick was a great guy. Solid, consistent, always friendly, loved the LAFD. We will all miss him.
Rick was a great person with a quick witted sense of humor. I first met Rick when I was on probation in Battlaion 5. I always enjoyed working with him. When I was an Inspector, we would frequently have fun with a certain Captain II who was hard of hearing. We would either talk in whispers or really loud. Rest in peace my friend. You’ll be missed, but not forgotten.
Rick Chew, gone too young and too soon. We met and bonded in the 1970’s in Battalion 5. He was always the ‘Old Timer’ and I, ‘His Boot’ (1 year difference in seniority!). We had great moments together both ‘on’ and ‘off’ the job’, both as younger firemen and later in his arson investigator gig. Rick was a very caring and compassionate man, with a heavy dose of jokester. Ricky, you will be missed but never forgotten. Now, Rest in Peace old friend.
‘Straight Chewter Rick’ You are among the very best my friend and will be remembered always with a smile. RIP Classmate
always enjoyed seeing Rick at so many LAFD gatherings. He was
always there at every LAFD memorial/funeral. It got to be a joke
between us that we only saw each other at funerals.
We worked together at FS 17 for many years. I’m so glad that we
took a picture together to remember those times.
I also appreciated how he kept everyone updated regarding the
passing of fellow firefighters and LAFD news in general. A very
thoughtful thing to do. In many cases his email was the first news I
received of a passing or an event.
He was a great guy. I’ll miss seeing him and may he rest in peace
I had the pleasure of working with Rick for about 20 years in the Arson Section.. A good Investigator and an asset to the Section. Reliable, dependable, funny and dedicated to the Department. Rick was easy to work with and fit into a Unit that was not always easy to work in due to limited staffing and long hours away from the family. I depended on Rick in many ways and he always came through. I was the object of some of his “pranks”, but they were always meant to take off some of the pressure. He regularly came to our Reunions and always had stories to tell. Some of them true, Your will be missed. We will raise a glass in your memory, My Friend.
I learned of Rick’s passing a little over a month ago. I met him at Early Rodders with my son about 15 years ago, and Rick remembered us by name the next week and every week, month and year after. We also had a connection via the University of Notre Dame. Rick was the type of person who welcomed everyone, and was your all around good human. Due to the pandemic, I hadn’t attended Early Rodder’s for over two years, and was and still am shocked to hear of his passing. The world lost a good friend in January 2022. Rest In Peace my friend.