CHIMACUM — The East Jefferson Fire and Rescue commissioners have unanimously passed a measure that would elevate Assistant Chief of Operations and Training Pete Brummel to deputy fire chief.
“It’s in our best interest to create some depth and have the deputy chief presence in the organization,” Fire Chief Bret Black said Wednesday. “That’s what prompted this proposal.”
The board’s approval gave Black the go-ahead to modify EJFR’s outdated deputy fire chief job description so that it would reflect Brummel’s actual duties and responsibilities. The measure needs to come before the commission for final approval.
“This made sense when I read it, there is a great balance of skills and knowledge,” Commissioner Deborah Stinson said.
In his new role, Brummel would assist Black by assuming some of the fire chief’s administrative duties in areas such as training, fire prevention and suppression and emergency medical services.
Brummel has been with EJFR for almost five years; previous to this he spent 22 years with East Side Fire & Rescue in Issaquah.
Other news from Wednesday’s meeting:
• Olympic Community of Health awarded EJFR a $130,000 grant for its CARES program, an intervention and health response service that connects East Jefferson County residents with support for behavioral, medical, housing, food insecurity and substance abuse issues. Established in January, the CARES unit.
OCR collaborates with governmental and public health agencies, hospitals, tribes and community organizations to deliver care to vulnerable populations in Jefferson, Clallam and Kitsap counties. (The Port Angeles Fire Department is also an OCH partner.)
• Black introduced Matt Stewart, the new director of Jeffcomm, the 911 communications dispatch center, to the board. Jeffcomm serves the public and fire, law enforcement and emergency agencies in Jefferson County. Stewart was previously superintendent of Jefferson County’s road maintenance department and is a volunteer firefighter with EJFR and Jefferson Search and Rescue.
• Fire district secretary Tanya Cray presented five-year and a 10-year financial plans should EJFR purchase new equipment to replace two engines ($950,000 each) and an ambulance ($275,000) in its aging fleet.
“That’s not everything that’s needed,” Black said. “That’s basic hardware like hoses and ladders, but it it’s not completely outfit.”
Commissioners discussed the possibility of purchasing a second ladder truck ($1.55 million) instead of a fire engine.
“If an engine were to go out of service at that station for maintenance or for whatever reason and we don’t have a replacement or reserve, they can still function as a fire engine,” Black said.
Black said EJFR has lost points in its Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau rating because it does not have a back-up ladder truck.
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached at Paula.Hunt@soundpublishing.com
