Deputy fire chief to retire; board told a promotion fills vacancy

An agency official told the board that the deputy fire chief is retiring in a couple weeks and that the district is promoting internally to fill the vacancy effective immediately. "He is retiring in a couple weeks," the official said; the official added that the district is excited the chief is retiring healthy and that the vacancy prompted the promotion announced at the meeting.

The official said additional information is available in the district's annual report and urged residents to tell commissioners what they want prioritized so the district can respond to local needs. The exchange included a public question about residents evacuated after a nearby mill fire, which the official addressed by describing how the department monitors fire-danger levels and responds to fireworks and other calls.